NanoTech + Art

Nanotechnology is an art-from that has presented a whole new area of our lives and goes beyond previously known methods of science. In this field, old scientific methodologies must be reinvented which in turn shifts the paradigm. The emersion of art and science is significant in this form of technology because not only does it impact every aspect of science and technology, but also has the potential to innovate scientific ideologies as a whole.

Physicist Richard Feynman envisioned this theoretical capability in the late 1950’s, believing that nanotechnology meant building things up from the bottom, with atomic precision. However, Norio Taniguchi is credited for coining the term “nanotechnology,” noting that “Nano-technology' mainly consists of the processing of separation, consolidation, and deformation of materials by one atom or one molecule.” Taniguchi laid out the foundation of nanotechnology for future physicists to further innovate and change scientific methodologies.

Nanotechnology explores the structure of atoms and their complex organization together

What I find interesting about nanotechnology is the specificity and precision of the field. In science, the term “Nano” refers to a billionth of a meter, which is a very small dimension. Nanotechnology works on a logarithmic scale using powers of ten; mathematics is extremely important in calculating nanometers. If even a just one minor miscalculation occurs, the entire outcome will be wrong. I feel like this is different from art because art does not necessitate a right or wrong answer. Art is open for interpretation and mistakes can be turned into something beautiful or completely different.

This shows specific mathematics used in nanotechnology

Artwork does not have a definitive equation to follow

In the early to mid 1980’s, two events occurred that helped nanotechnology become a more prominent scientific study. During this time, nanotechnology became less theoretical and more realistic. The first experimental development was a new form of carbon unknown to man. Before Smalley discovered buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀), carbon was either diamond or graphite. The second experiment was the ability to see individual atoms in real space. The scanning tunneling microscope and the buckeyball allowed for atoms to be manipulated and visualized for the first time. Traditional microscopes use lenses that magnify objects but are limited by the wavelength of light. However, the scanning microscope has a “finger” that is actually a needle and feels the atoms on the surface. Today, there are thousands of nanotechnology products on the market, most of which are nano particles.

This is the scanning tunneling microscope used to visualize individual atoms

Works Cited

What Is Nanotechnology?" Nano.gov. Nano.gov National Nanotechnology Initiative, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definition>.

Popov, Mikhail E. "Norio Taniguchi." Glossary of Nanotechnology and Related Terms. Rusnano, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Feng.thesaurus.rusnano.com%2Fwiki%2Farticle24441>.

Gimzewski, Jim, Dr. "Nanotech Jim Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE#t=276>.

Gimzewski, Jim, Dr. "Nanotech Jim Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEp6t0v-v9c#t=196>.

Gimzewski, Jim, Dr. "Nanotech Jim Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0HCNiU_108#t=139>.

Feynman, Richard P. "Feynman's Talk." There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom. Feynman's Talk, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/feynman.html>.

"Harun Yahya." Nanotechnology. Harun Yahya, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://m.harunyahya.com/tr/Daily-Comments/46541/Nanotechnology>.

Neuroscience+Art

After learning about art’s connection with medicine and the human body, it is no surprise to me that neuroscience has a strong connection with art as well. Artists play a vital role in using modern technology to analyze the separation between the mind and body. Professor Vesna raised an interesting point regarding consciousness and one’s personal identity. It is really interesting to think about the complexity of our minds. We have the ability to make sounds, create words, and be able to communicate with other people in a matter of nanoseconds. We can also hear someone speak, make sense of the information, and respond instantly. Aside from my initial skepticism, it is clear that the “third culture” between the arts and sciences is becoming more evident with new discoveries and technology. (Vesna, pt.1)

This image shows brain waves though different levels of consciousness

In the past century, Artists and scientists have come a long way in figuring out how the brain looks and works. Ramon y Cajal and Franz Joseph Gall are two significant personalities in the history of the brain because they were critical of showing how the brain looks and works. It is amazing to think about the extent in which technology has helped further our scientific knowledge. Without advanced technology, we would not know the correct function of my bodies and mind. Back in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, Gall believed that the size of your brain was a direct correlation with intelligence. He also theorized that the brain was separated into 27 different organs and that human behavior is dependent on each specific region of the brain. (Vesna, pt. 1)

Franz Joseph Gall's depiction of the brain showing the different sections

The innovation of technology has allowed scientists to explore the vastness of our brain and all of its capabilities—especially when it comes to controlling the body and creating unconscious and conscious thoughts. Scientists have acquired extensive knowledge regarding the affects that drugs have on the brain, especially cocaine and LSD. The study of neurochemicals and chemistry is a culture that is closely linked with the effect that hormones have on the mind and body, such as serotonin with depression and dopamine with sexual pleasure. There was a time during the 1800’s when cocaine was widely used in many products and was a cure for morphine addiction, depression, and fatigue. Sigmund Freud experimented with cocaine and used it on his friend to cure a morphine addiction in addition to almost killing a patient. LSD was synthesized by Albert Hoffman, and was given to alcoholics in AA and apparently stopped people from drinking.  In 1960, Timothy Leary contributed to the counterculture while conducting research with LSD. He distributed the drug to students and gave it to prisoners to stop them from repeating offences. Nixon claimed him to be the most dangerous man in America. It is amazing what scientists have been able to discover over the years with innovation in the medicinal and technological fields. (Vesna, pt.3)

1885 Advertisement for Cocaine toothache Drops

Works Cited

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience-pt1.mov." Neuroscience-pt.1. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 16 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience Pt3." Neuroscience Pt3. YouTube, 16 May 2012. Web. 16 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5EX75xoBJ0#t=134>.

Bergland, Christopher. "The Neurochemicals of Happiness." Psychology Today. Psychology Today, 29 Nov. 2012. Web. 16 May 2015. <https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201211/the-neurochemicals-happiness>.

"Freud and Cocaine -- The Deal." Freud and Cocaine-- The Deal. History Hosue, n.d. Web. 16 May 2015. <http://www.historyhouse.com/in_history/cocaine/>.

Kotsos, Tania. "Brain Waves and the Deeper States of Consciousness." Brain Waves and the Deeper States of Consciousness. Mind Your Reality, n.d. Web. 16 May 2015. <http://www.mind-your-reality.com/brain_waves.html>.

BioTech+Art

As one of the most controversial topics covered in this class, biotechnology raises ethical concerns as it deals with creating hybrids, live organisms, and experimenting on animals. The fields of science and technology are continuing to expand and explore the human body. Artists have begun working in laboratories with scientists to explore the cellular tissue level of living beings. This has sparked controversy regarding the definition of “BioArt.” (Vesna, pt.1)

Although Eduardo Kac coined the term BioArt, Joe Davis is known to be the “Father of BioArt.” He came up ideas that most scientists would find dangerous or crazy. One of his most profound inventions was the Audio Microscope, which transfers light information into sound, allowing the user to hear living cells. He also explored how E. Coli responded to jazz and sounds and digitized and translated micro Venus into the genes of E. coli. Micro Venus has never been shown in a public gallery due to the risk of displaying genetically engineered bacteria. Davis was clearly a highly intelligent individual and intellectually ahead of his time. His dangerous inventions and experiments played a significant role in the cohesion of biotechnology and art. (Vesna, pt.1)

Joe Davis's E. coli experiment

According to Professor Vesna, artists entered science labs the same year that they human genome was sequenced. This led to the formation of a group called “Syombiotica,” which was created by both artists and scientists. Although artists and scientists have been linked throughout history, this seems to be the first time that they have really come together as a single unit. I found it very interesting to learn about what artists and scientists are capable of accomplishing when working together. Symbiotica formed tissue culture and art project. Tissue engineering related projects are the main focus of their work; which sparks ethical debates which emerging technologies. In addition to their research, Symbiotica created a project called “fish and chips” which was a robotic arm operated by goldfish neurons to produce art. Before this lecture, I never would have thought that the unity of art and science could produce such cutting-edge technology. (Vesna, pt.2)

This is Symbiotica; a group of artists and scientists conjoined in a single laboratory

Symbiotica's "Fish and Chips" project creating art

Kathy High was a visual/media artist and member of Symbiotica. She created a vampire study group by working with the body and biological manipluation of life. She created blood wars, which was a competition between individuals to test the biological reaction of human white blood cells. Similar to last weeks lecture, plactic surgery plays an important role in biotechnology and art. I found Stelarc’s third ear to be one of the most striking experiments regarding the human body. The ear is comprised of cultured human cartilage with an implanted microphone. This was a performance of a sub-dermal implant of an ear on his arm created to hear sound between living and nonliving things. (Vesna, pt.3) This is extremely thought provoking, as body modification is a highly debated.

Stelarc's Third Ear

Works Cited

"Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture." Joe Davis. Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture, n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_joe.htm>.

Katherine. "“Father of BioArt” Joe Davis on Colbert." ScienceFriday.com. Science Friday, 11 Jan. 2011. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.sciencefriday.com/blogs/01/11/2011/-8220-father-of-bioart-8221-joe-davis-on-colbert.html?interest=1>.

"SymbioticA." : : The University of Western Australia. The University of Western Australia, n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.symbiotica.uwa.edu.au/>.

"Extended-Body: Interview with Stelarc." Extended-Body: Interview with Stelarc. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://web.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/stelarc/a29-extended_body.html>.

Gibbs, W. Wayt. "Scientific American: Feature Article: Art as a Form of Life: April 2001." Art as a Life Form. Scientific American, n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_j_webarchive/davis_profile_sciam/jd.htm>.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 Bioart Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg>.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 BioArt Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdSt-Hjyi2I&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7#t=145>.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 BioArt Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 5 May 2012. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EpD3np1S2g&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7#t=61>.

Midterm Project

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7bmmplwqbrshed9/KRISTIN_WILEY_DESMA9_MIDTERM-2.PDF?dl=0