Nanotech + Art Week 8

Nanotechnology fascinates me and freaks me out all at the same time.  I think if we were able to move cells at the atomic level to move from dirt to a hamburger, that would be amazing.  At the same time, I don't enjoy that so many things are being changed and then being put on my body(sunscreen) or things that I am eating.

I've always enjoyed looking at stained glass windows.  They have always interested me and I had no idea about how they were made.  Such a genius way of creating something beautiful by starting at its basic structure and adding metallic salts to bring out its colors.  And stained glass in itself was an art form that told stories to people that were not well educated.  Sharing stories through the pictures.

I am very interested in Ned Seeman Self assembling DNA structures.  I am not sure if I fully understand what Mr Seeman is working on.  I believe he is trying to connect through different DNA structures a way for our bodies to regenerate missing tissues.  Eventually being able to heal our wounds that seemed impossible, or do it quicker, or not have to use skin from other parts of our body.  Lots of different ways to use this once it is figured out.

The Blue Morpho Butterfly has manipulated itself on a micro level to look different to the viewer than its actual look.  Its blue color which is very rare to be found in nature is not based from alterations in its pigment, but based off of Iridescence.  Because of the angle and shape of the butterfly it is possible that is why the butterfly is viewed blue.  The structural coloration is where microstructures interfere with light to create new colors to the eye.

Picture links:

http://seemanlab4.chem.nyu.edu/index.html

http://www.rgbstock.com/bigphoto/mDrSxI0/glass+pictures

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids/species-profiles/blue-butterfly

Works Cited:

     Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech for Artists." Nanotechnology and Art Lecture. UCLA, Los Angeles. 22 May 2015. Lecture.

Iridescence: views from many angles Meadows, M. et al. (2009) J. R. Soc. Interface 6:S107-S113

Discovering stained glass - John Harries, Carola Hicks, Edition: 3 – 1996

Leach, William (2013). Butterfly People. New York: Pantheon Books. p. 201.

Seeman, Ned. "Welcome to Ned Seeman's Laboratory Home Page." Ned Seeman's Home Page. NYU, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.