Week 8: Nanotech + Art

This week’s lecture, Nanotech + Art is a prevalent topic gaining momentum in today’s society. I have never been exposed to the science behind nanotechnology and was very interested to understand how we can work with atoms on such a small scale. 

One example I found particularly interesting was when Jim Gimzewski mentioned that the nanostructure of gecko feet has inspired scientists to try to replicate it for adhesives (Gimzewski).  After doing some research, I found that Professor Robert Langer and Jeff Karp from MIT were some of those scientists making useful breakthroughs for the medical community. In 2008, they created a biodegradable, waterproof, adhesive bandage that could potentially be used in sealing wounds and surgeries on the heart, lungs, and other wet surfaces (Dougherty). 

Luckily, these bandages are biodegradable so their incredible stickiness can be maximized without any repercussions. By altering the landscape of the bandage on the nanoscale to improve adhesiveness, they further hypothesized that they could alter the landscape to infuse drugs into the bandages in the future (Dougherty). Scientists have experimented with self-assembling materials in an artistic sense as well. Wim L. Noorduin created beautiful micro-bouquets of flowers, coral reefs, and another natural shapes (Gravotta). Although intended to better understand patterns in nature, by controlling these nanoparticles he was also creating art (Perry). 

One of the toughest problems we will face in the near future will be the perception shift necessary to accept a world ruled by nanotechnology. Although the technology may be there, historically the public has not always been willing to accept unknown and dramatic change. Art is one of the means by which we can integrate nanotechnology into the public’s conscience in a less intimidating manner. I agree with Jim Gimzewski and Victoria Vesnas‘s “The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact & fiction in the construction of a new science,” in which they argue that artists and scientists need to work together to create and propagate this new society that will be turned upside by nanotechnology.

REFERENCES

Coveney, Donna. Robert Langer and Jeffrey Karp. Digital image. MIT News. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 18 Feb. 2008. Web. 21 May 2015.

Dougherty, Elizabeth. "MIT Creates Gecko-inspired Bandage." MIT News. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 18 Feb. 2008. Web. 22 May 2015.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Unit 8." DESMA 9. United States, Los Angeles. 21 May 2015. Lecture.

Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science." (n.d.): 1-8. Web. 21 May 2015.

Gravotta, Luciana. "Very Fine Art: 6 Stunningly Beautiful Nanoscale Sculptures [Slide Show]." Scientific American Global RSS. Scientific American, 19 May 2013. Web. 22 May 2015.

Nanotechnology. Digital image. Nanotechnology. Aatitec, n.d. Web. 21 May 2015.

Noorduin, Wim L. False color SEM images. Digital image. Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 16 May 2013. Web. 21 May 2015.

Perry, Caroline. "Beautiful "flowers" Self-assemble in a Beaker." Beautiful "flowers" Self-assemble in a Beaker. Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 16 May 2013. Web. 22 May 2015.