Week 8: Nanotechnology + Art

I still remember how I was amazed by some mysterious and incredible technology that rebuilds everything from scratch in some sic-fi movies. And I know now it is nanotechnology, which connects chemistry, mechanical engineering, biology and physics. When people are looking at the sky and thinking how we can get to the Moon or the Mars, some people are looking at the "invisible" things on their lab tables. These nanotechnology scientists and artists are opening up a whole new "world", a tiny small world that is different from everything we have known or imagined before. Old science rules or ideologies can no longer fully apply to this field. We need new insights and innovation in order to maximize the benefits that nanotechnology can bring to our lives.

Manipulated Molecules

Nanotechnology can have profound impact to a large range of things. For example, nanotechnology can turn block, glove and even glass to super "water-proof", which is not only water-proof but also oil-proof and mud-proof. When I saw the video about how nanotechnology transform the properties of things in daily life,  I dropped my jaw. It is incredibly magical.

Left-normal glove; Right-super glove modified by nanotechnology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEH6tDLKcVU

Moreover, what will happen if nanotechnology meets robots? The answer is nanorobot! But why is it different from normal robot? First of all, it is incredibly small, which means you can even see it. Due to the tiny size, it can be put into human bodies to help cure cancers and clean up the blood. It is the future of advanced medical solution. Secondly, there are so many types of nanorobot, more than you can think of. It can be used in warfare, hospital, school, factory, and even farm land with different functionality.

Various types of nanorobot

However, nanotechnology can also be controversial in terms of how people utilize it. It can fall into the hands of terrorists and become weapons of massive chemical attacks. In short, as long as we make more good out of the bad of nanotechnology, it is worthy to explore and develop this technology and make our world a better place.


Work cited:

Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May. 2015. <http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=0AF1EFEE1A90856EC5DB09D1E5AA8C79?doi=10.1.1.127.8516&rep=rep1&type=pdf>.

“Art in the Age of Nanotechnology.” Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May. 2015. <https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

Links:

Nova: Making Things Smaller

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/making-stuff.html#making-stuff-smaller

New nanoparticles make blood clots visible

http://nanowiki.info/#%5B%5BNew%20nanoparticles%20make%20blood%20clots%20visible%5D%5D