Week 8: Nanotech + Art

This week’s lecture seems like an extremely scientific one, but if we pay attention to some small details, it is not hard to tell that there are a lot of artistic elements penetrating into the topic of nanotechnology. Generally speaking, nanotechnology itself creates unlimited possibilities, which certainly involve art innovations. To be specific, even in an experiment of nanoscience, the outcome can be very artistic. For instance, in the lecture it was mentioned that the word “UCLA” can be written in carbon monoxide molecules using Scanning Tunneling Microscope. Another example was Ned Seeman’s experiment on self-assembling DNA structures in certain patterns such as a smiley face. As we can see, integrating artistic ideas into scientific process can make things very interesting.

Ned Seeman's self-assembling DNA structures
(from Google images)

Dragonflies for aircraft designs
(from Google images)

The part which impressed me the most was how scientists got the inspirations of different nanoparticles. When I first saw on facebook about a coat which can always keep itself clean and uncontaminated, I was totally amazed by it. After this lecture, I finally knew that the technology behind this was a nano-structured surface, which came from the inspiration of Lotus Leaf Effect. Another example in the lecture was the imitation of Gecko feet for creating wall-climbing tools. In fact, the nature is full of scientific laws and I would say that it is an enormous learning resource for scientists. There are many other examples where animals inspire technological developments, such as bats for new radar systems, dragonflies for better aircraft designs, and fireflies for low-cost LED lighting, etc. Thus, nature is always fundamental to science.

Also, from my point of view, nanotechnology will bring about the greatest breakthroughs in medicine. In addition to anticancer and cosmetic aspects mentioned in the lecture, I think that nanotechnology can also have significant use in long term health care and detection of diseases. This idea is based on my midterm project, which is about a robot detecting abnormalities. Now I start to think that if this project can be conducted by a nanorobot in the human body, the data would be even more accurate and instant. In fact, nanorobots are already being used in treating tumors, blood clots, and infections, etc.

A nanorobot in human body
(from Google images)

Like what Dr. Gimzewski said, nanotechnology is unpredictable and unconventional, meaning that testings are necessary before release. As long as safety is guaranteed, the way nanotechnology can benefit the world will be beyond our imagination.

Sources:

Youtube. “Nanotech Jim pt 1” to “Nanotech Jim pt 6”. Video.

Unknown. “Bats could inspire new radar systems”, The Telegraph, 30 Mar 2010. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/7536327/Bats-could-inspire-new-radar-systems.html> Accessed 26 May 2017. Web.

Bazell, Robert. "Dragonfly Flight Inspires Better Aircraft Design.", NBC Today Show. NBCUniversal Media. 16 Apr. 1984. NBC Learn. Web. 4 April 2015.

Urquhart, James. “Fireflies inspire low-cost LED lighting”, Chemistryworld, 29 October 2012. <https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/fireflies-inspire-low-cost-led-lighting-/5573.article> Accessed 26 May 2017. Web.

Rubinstein, Leslie. “A Practical NanoRobot for Treatment of Various Medical Problems”, Foresight Institute. <https://www.foresight.org/Conference/MNT8/Papers/Rubinstein/index.html> Accessed 26 May 2017. Web.