Week 8: Nanotech + Art

Nanotechnology is a technology that manipulates matters at the nanoscale, which is about 1 - 100nm. Before this week's lecture, I have heard about it a couple of times and have learned that it is a powerful area in the future. However, I am surprised that nanotech is already widely used in our daily lives. Nanotech has existed in clothes, medicines, tennis balls, food, and of course, design and art.
I always believe that nanotechnology is a brand new area in science. But the truth is, the Romans have employed nanotechnology in art dated back to 400 B.C. even if they were not aware of it. Lycurgus Cup, an ancient Roman pottery, appears to be green in daylight, but red if the light comes from inside. This rare coloration, according to Dr. Gimzewski, is made by nano-sized gold particles due to their special properties. (Gimzewski, p3)

Lycurgus Cup

Not only the does the gold particles change their properties at nano-sized but also do the other particles. At the nanoscale, opaque change into transparent, solids into liquid, inert material into a catalyst and insulator conductor. These changes open up a door to further applications of nanotech such as waterproof clothes and self-cleaning glass.

Scanning Tunneling Microscope

In order to observe atoms at the nanoscale, two German scientists Gred Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer invented the Scanning Tunneling Microscope. This technology enables people to not only get a more accurate image of atom structures but also manipulate chemical reactions at atom-level. Lisa, a graduate student in Dr. Gimzewski's group, produced an image of UCLA by the Scanning Tunneling Microscope. IBM, the birthplace of the Scanning Tunneling Microscope, also used this technology to manipulate the carbon monoxide molecules to made a logo of their own.

UCLA image made by Lisa

IBM logo made by carbon monoxide

Though nanotechnology brings us convenience and lots of possibilities, it also brings risks to us. However, as long as people are aware of its risks and as the research in nanotech goes deeper, I believe scientists and artists can develop more applications and create more stunning arts by the nanotechnology.

Sources:

"New Under Sol: Nanotechnology in the Roman Empire." New Under Sol: Nanotechnology in the Roman Empire. Web. 22 May 2016. <http://newundersol.blogspot.com/2013/09/nanotechnology-in-roman-empire.html>.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, 2012. Web. 22 May 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEp6t0v-v9c>.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 2012. Web. 22 May 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0HCNiU_108>.

"The Scanning Tunneling Microscope." The Scanning Tunneling Microscope. Web. 22 May 2016. <http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/physics/microscopes/scanning/>.

"Atoms Were Moved with an IBM-invented Scanning Tunneling Microscope - IBM Unveils 'world's Smallest Movie' Using Atoms - The Economic Times." The Economic Times. Web. 22 May 2016.