Week 8 | NanoTech + Art

The term nanotechnology was coined by professor Norio Taniguchi at the Tokyo University in Japan. However, over a decade earlier in 1959, fundamental concepts and ideas were explored in a talk entitled “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” by American physicist Richard Feynman at the California Institute of Technology(CalTech). In this lecture he discussed the ideas of manipulating individual structures at the atomic level. 

Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary technology which works on how to synthesize, manipulate, or characterize matter at the molecular and atomic level, that is, nanoscale, which is a scale so small that we can not see it though naked eyes or regular light microscope. More specifically, one nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology is a very rapidly emerging field which has been influencing many different disciplines. Things at the nanoscale can not be seen by naked eyes or regular microscopes. Therefore, in 1981 when the scanning tunneling microscope(STM) was developed which could enable us to see individual atoms, the age of nanotechnology began.

                       Examples of the nanoscale                   

Neri Oxman's 3D printed designs (above) 

paired with James Weaver's scanning electron micrographs (below). 

Even though nanotechnology is quite new and an emerging field, nanoscale materials were used for a long time. As an example, during medieval era, alternate-sized gold and silver particles were used, creating various colors in the stained glass windows of the churches.

 Medieval stained glass windows: example of  how nanotechnology was used 

in the pre-modern era.

At the nanoscale, many new properties have been discovered, which are not observed in materials at larger scales. Therefore, nanotechnology has brought about revolutions in many different disciplines. One good example is nanomedicine. Nanotechnology has led to enormous revolutions in medicine. Nanomaterials usually have higher surface area to volume ratios, being able to work as large substrate for chemical attachment. In addition, most nanomaterials can penetrate living cells, and this could enable them to function as carriers for delivery of drugs or biosensors. Christopher Guiffre, who is a chief business officer at the Cambridge, Massachusetts based nanotherapeutics company called Cerulean Pharma, even predicted, “Five years from now every pharma will have a nano program.”

Nanotechnology in high throughput screening

Great impact of nanotechnology has been observed in art. NanoArt is a good example, and this is a novel art discipline which combines art, science, and technology on the nanoscale. More specifically, this consists of three main components: 1) creation of the nanosculpture – sculpture at atomic and molecular levels, 2) visualization of the nanostructures through the use of advanced microscopes such as electron or scanning probe microscopy techniques, 3) artistic interpretation of the scientific images via different artistic techniques to process these images for large audiences and to educate the public with creative.

Colorized scanning electron microscopy image of pollen from various common plants: 

sunflower, morning glory, hollyhock, lily, primrose, and castor bean

NanoArt has also been presented at traditional art exhibitions, reflecting one of their aims, that is, to familiarize people around the world with matters and their creations on the nanoscale. One example is ‘A Boy and His Atom,’ which is a one-minute stop-motion animated film created by IBM Research in 2012 via scanning tunneling microscope.

An image of a small boy on the right made out of silvery dots against a gray background, 

with a single dot on the left. Dots are individual atoms viewed via electron microscope; 

from the IBM short film named A Boy and His Atom.

NanoArt reflects new technological revolutions in art. Scientists have been working on this field vigorously hoping to find better solutions for future. However, like any other technology we have seen through this class, nanotechnology could be beneficial or detrimental to the society depending on its use.

References:

"Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Art.Base. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2016.

"Extraordinary Beauty of the NanoArt World: Photos : DNews." DNews. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2016.

"How Nanotechnology Is Revolutionizing Medicine | Genetic Literacy Project." Genetic Literacy Project. N.p., 07 Aug. 2014. Web. 22 May 2016.

"Making Stuff." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 22 May 2016.

"Nanoart." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 22 May 2016.

"NanoArt 21." NanoArt 21. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2016.

"Nanotechnology Could Lead to Revolution in Drug Development | Genetic Literacy Project." Genetic Literacy Project. N.p., 22 June 2015. Web. 22 May 2016.

"Nanotechnology in High Throughput Screening. Fall 06." Drug Discovery World. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2016.

"The Art of Nanotech." Bits The Art of Nanotech Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2016.

"What Is Nanotechnology?" Nano. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2016.