Nanotech + Art

Nano in Greek means "dwarf." But that word does not accurately describe how small a nanometer is. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter and to put that in perspective, the average thickness of a human hair is 500,000 nanometers. 

Our first instinct when trying to look at something so small would be to use a microscope. But even a microscope that can magnify ten thousand times, will come up fuzzy or blank. In 1981, the Scanning Tunneling Microscope was invented, allowing atoms so small to be seen. 

In popular culture, the idea of shrinking down to the size of a dust bunny and seeing a new world from the perspective of something so miniscule is fascinating and frequently displayed in the plots of movie and tv. Without the use of technology or science, this depiction would be inaccurate. The art that results from these advanced microscopes are mind boggling with the amount of clarity and details.

For example, above is a polycrystalline alloy consisting of three elements—nickel, magnesium, and gallium. This alloy is a magnetic shape memory material. The image was taken with a polarized optical microscope, which lends the picture its vivid colors. Some compare it to a Turner sunset, which simply goes to show that, our imagination takes over when we see things from different perspectives. 

As I researched more and more about nanotech merged with art, I looked into our very own Professor Vesna and Dr. Gumzewski's installation. The exhibit displayed how ar, science, and technology are constantly inflluencing each other. Through the installation, participants were able to experience how it felt to manipulate atoms one by one.

"Nanoscience will eventually revolutionize and impact upon every single aspect of our lives, including the arts," said Gimzewski. "It brings all the sciences together at the level of the atom. It is completely new in the way we fabricate and make things." (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/12/1223_031223_nanotechnology_2.html)

 Works Cited

"Can Art Make Nanotechnology Easier to Understand?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/12/1223_031223_nanotechnology_2.html>.

Lilley, Maiken. "The Art of Nanotech." PBS. PBS, 18 Nov. 2010. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/art-nanotech.html>.

"NANO | about." NANO | about. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://nano.arts.ucla.edu/mandala/about.php>.

"NanoArt: Nanotechnology and Art." : Media and Communications Book Chapter. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.igi-global.com/chapter/nanoart-nanotechnology-art/65026>.

"When Nanotechnology Meets Art." ScienceAndReligioncom. N.p., 20 Apr. 2011. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://iaincarstairs.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/when-nanotechnology-meets-art/>.