Week 5, NanoTech + Art

When I was younger and involved with a variety of sports, I often wondered why tennis balls, unlike basketballs and footballs, never needed to be inflated. Dr. Gimzewski opened my eyes to this answer along with a number of other fascinating inventions and discoveries, all due to the world of nanotechnology.

Because nanotechnology takes place on a scale smaller than atom level, the inventions, art, and productions made with nanoscience is fantastic and phenomenal.  In this TED lecture by Paul Rothemund, we see how modern technology has facilitated nanotechnology creation.

Rothemund shows us that we can make both cool things, like smiley faces a tenth the width of a hair on a drop of water from DNA strand linings, as well as groundbreaking creations like using DNA strands to make much, much larger physical objects. An example of one of the more amazing creations the video shows is algorithm-infused molecular computers self-replicating the computers we have around us. This opens up the possibilities for the future of nano artwork and perfecting the processes to make more precise designs and tools.

Like the tennis ball, nano technology's consistent involvement in our lives often escapes our vision. For example, the self-cleaning and water-resistent slacks and windows are usually never questioned. But when it comes to more serious areas of our life, like food, it makes me wonder if people are aware of the manipulation that has been performed on what they are ingesting.



There is infinite potential to the possibilities of nano-scale creation with foods, but if such cloning is being performed on foods, I side with the International Union of Food and other organizations that these foods should be labeled as modified. 


Putting health issues aside, I think it is phenomenal that edible wrappers and plates can be created in whichever shape and color is desired. For art purposes, this is fantastic and opens many doors. At a Perth International Art Festival, a piece was exhibited displaying the way that bones can be used as speakers. Of course, nano-scale examination and integration is necessary to amplify these inner bone vibrations.
                 
Because there are endless possibilities to the ways nanotechnology can be used, it is important to distinguish between the helpful and harmful uses. When scientists artfully coat cancer cells with nano-sized antibodies that kill the cancer cells around infrared light, we see the wonderfully positive uses of nanotechnology. But we must be careful not to abuse our capabilities. Some things are meant to be kept natural while some are meant to be tweaked.

Works Cited

 Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

Gimzewski, James. Nanotech Jim pt3. By Uconlineprogram. YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHCuZetAIhk#t=287>.

"Nano-Cloned Tomato." The Ecologist. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.theecologist.org/siteimage/scale/0/0/105559.jpg>.

"Nanoprotect." Dickinson Blogs. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://blogs.dickinson.edu/mindmeetsmatter/files/2010/11/nanoprotect-ag-is12.jpg>.

Paul Rothemund: DNA Folding, in Detail. TED. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_rothemund_details_dna_folding#t-891015>.

"Wilson US Open2." Cara o Wapax. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://sagatheball.ru/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/wilson-us-open2.jpg>.