Week 8: Nanotech and Art

The use of nanotechnology is becoming a necessity for growth and change within human society.  Over the history of physics and science, the idea of changing things on an atomic level has been talked about, but it was never formed as a separate department of science.   Dr. Gimzewski states in his lecture that Feynman, a scientist, notices that at a nanoscale, the laws of physics change and the effects of surface tension and thermal jittering have a larger effect than gravity at that scale. (Lecture, Part 1) The concept of nanotechnology is knowledge that only a select few of scientist can grasp, but the art that is conceived by the mechanics or practice of it is stunning.

Atoms are now being drawn or rendered due to a process called scanning tunneling microscopy. (Lecture, Part 2) The surface of material is changed based on changes of chemical bonds creating waves, so basically any shape can be made on a surface.  The art potential with this scanning tunneling microscopy is only scratching the surface because works of art can be made on surfaces that were once a different shape or flat. 

Also the rendered geometric shapes of atoms can now be seen by the same scanning process. The patterns and shapes of different atoms and atomic structures are seen from the process and it is an achievement of science and art.  The art aspect of it is how something that is present within nature, but cannot be seen by the naked eye, is able to be shown to our eyes through technological advances.  To be able to see what was once unknown and mysterious is a great attribute to put on an artwork, and seeing silicon structures and how symmetric their build in nature is achieves a work of art.

Works Cited/Links

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture 1. DESMA 9. Web. 21 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture 2. DESMA 9. Web. 21 May 2015.

"The Scanning Tunneling Microscope." Nobel Prize. Web. 23 May 2015.

"MADE IN IBM LABS: The World's Tiniest Art on Display." IBM. Web. 23 May 2015.

"Nanotechnology: The Art of Molecular Carpet-weaving." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 Jan. 2012. Web. 23 May 2015.