Nanotechnology and Art

In this weeks material presented by Dr. Gimzewski he talks about how the development of Nanotechnology was done before the word was even used. Richard Feynman describes this phenomenon in his work describing how he could manipulate atoms and create different things by "maneuvering things atom by atom". During this time it seemed impossible to "Put the atoms down where the chemist says" but by this there is a clear comparison between nanotechnology and art. An artist is able to create things in creative ways. With nanotechnology it is possible to go against the rigid and organized stereotype that science has and create things based purely on artistic inspiration socially and economically.

In the lecture Dr. Gimzewski says the word "create" several times. An artist is someone who creates something and does this by building or maneuvering things around. Gimzewski talks bout nanoscale and how "nanoscale objects can be used to create new effects that are otherwise unknown to physics"(Gimzewski). Furthermore, just as artist are able to create things that may seem unimaginable or something that most people would never be able to think about creating in a lifetime, so does nanotechnology do that in comparison of physics. It reaches outside the laws of physics.

In fact nanotechnology draws artistic conceptes to further science and its discoveries. Nanotechnology is used in the medical field and with further advancement it may "help diagnose heart disease, cancers, HIV and other diseases quickly and at a far lower cost that current clinical methods." The advancement that has been done since the mid 1900's has been remarkable and as the years go on, nanotechnology will continue to advance just like the artist of today. JOhn Curtain Gallery describes the affects of nanotechnology that it is "designed to challenge, explore and critique our understanding of the material world and has brought together artist and scientist from around the world to present new ways of seeing, sensing and connecting with matter that minuscule and abstract" (Gallery).

Nanotechnology is seen everywhere. Some examples that I can most relate to and that I found interesting is the use of nanotechnology in sportswear. Such as, socks and underwear in which the nanotechnology helps keep it durable and clean. Technology has a lot of nanotechnology in it as well.

References:

"Richard Feynman Introduces the World to Nanotechnology with Two Seminal Lectures (1959 & 1984)." Open Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
"Microsponges from Seaweed May Save Lives." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

Gemzewski, Jim. "Nanotech for Artists." UConline.edu. University of California. Web. 23 Nov 2013. <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/63226/wiki/unit-8-view?module_item_id=970451>.

"Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Artabase.net. John Curtain Gallery, 5 Feb 2010. Web. 23 Nov 2013. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

"History of Nanotechnology."Futurehumanevolution.com. The Future of Human Evolution. Web. 23 Nov 2013. <http://www.futurehumanevolution.com/history-of-nanotechnology-updated>.

Neuroscience and Art

 Right when Professor Vesna mentioned mind control in her opening lecture, I knew this topic of Neuroscience and Art would be one of my favorites. Art has been used in many different ways regarding to scientist. But most recently this topic of mind and body has been the topic of choice within the last hundred years. While art and science has been used in extreme and interesting ways, the Brainbow Project is beautiful and educational that allows us to study the neural connections in the brain.

The Brainbow Project is not only an extremely beautiful and artistic thing used in science but it is very helpful and useful in todays study of the brain. The scientific purpose is that each neuron is flagged with a distinctive color in order to understand neural connection in the brain (Vesna). Also scientist are able to investigate these neural pathways further then ever before, which helps our understanding of something that is so complicated. When art is used in this way, we get the best of both worlds. Art and science should only be used in ways which it helps advance our society in a safe way. When we start to tamper with things such as drugs to help bring a different perspective of life then that is crossing the line. 

Now another thing that has been talked about by many different philosophers and scientist is the mind and conscience. These things are separate from the body and are not physical things. It would make sense that something that is non-physical would not be able to affect something physical. Logically it would seem impossible. Many theories have been developed to try to explain the mind and conscience. Roger Penrose thinks that "there has to be something in physics that we don't yet understand, which is very important, and which is of a noncumputational character"(Penrose). However, I disagree with Penrose. I think that the mind is something that can not be fully understood. I think that somethings in this world are not meant to be fully understood and will not always have an explanation. 

 Vesna , Victoria. "Neuroscience Art Lectures."UConline.edu. N.p.. Web. 15 Nov 2013. <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/63226/wiki/unit-7-view?module_item_id=970446>.

Penrose, Roger. ""Consciousness Involves Noncomputable Ingredients"." Edge.org. Simon and Schuster. Web. 15 Nov 2013. <http://www.edge.org/documents/ThirdCulture/v-Ch.14.html>.

"Multidimensional Humanity." Multidimensional Humanity. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

"Brainbow." Center for Brain Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Else, Liz. "Out of Body Experience Highlights Clues to Consciousness." Consciouslifenews.com. Concscious Life News. Web. 15 Nov 2013. <http://consciouslifenews.com/body-experience-highlights-clues-consciousness/>.

BioTech + Art

The study of Biotechnology has given humanity a ton of things to help educate and advance our society, especially with food and health. Except there has been mixed emotions whether or not Biotechnology and Art should be intertwined. Scientist believe that the exploitation of life is necessary for a greater good. However, when thinking about it in a way an artist might, it would make for a great debate.

The Characteristics of an artist is making something that is unique, appealing, and sometimes controversial. I do not think that changing life for the main purpose of creating art has any justification. Plastic surgery falls in this category for me. However, if it is completely obvious that it will have a positive outcome then of course do it. In Eduardo Kac's experiment, where he focused on creating a fluorescent bunny. While the human creativity is very harmless to perform these acts on a bunny but this may lead to trying it on a human being. It comes off as something that may go wrong in the future and that is why the combination of Biotechnology and Art does not seem right.

My favorite part of the material this week was the ethically sound region of Biotechnology and Art. Joe Davis came up with the "Audio Microscope" which "allows the user to image particular living cells while simultaneously listening to their greatly amplified - and species-specific - micro-acoustic signatures"(Davis). This is completely harmless and is yet very interesting. This device and piece of art does not cross any questionable and ethical lines. The art is quite beautiful.

Biotech is included in agriculture as well and if we ever have a zombie apocalypse and have a shortish of food then it might as well save our lives. Across the world we are using genetically modified organisms (GMO'S) in our foods and it has been very successful. While the topic of GMO's have been widely debated over the years it would in fact come in handy if there was a food shortage. We may be able to relay on these "GMO's because producing would become more sufficient. Many U.S. farmers are adapting "GM crops-GM corn" due to the fact that its a much easier way for farmers to produce in different types of weather and would in fact help revenue.


 Davis, Joe. "Audio Microscope." Viewingspace.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov 2013. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_audio_scope.htm>.

Weinberg, Hal. "Biotechnology, Ethics and the Future."Humanistperspectives.org. Humanist Perspectives. Web. 10 Nov 2013. <http://www.humanistperspectives.org/issue151/biotechnology_ethics.html>.

Kac, Eduardo. "GFP Bunny." Ekac.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov 2013. <http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html>.

Siyonbola. "GMO FOODS." Web. 31. Aug 2012.http://chelumumba.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/top-10-gmo-foods/
Vesna, Victoria. "5 BioArt Pt 1-5." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.