Nanotech + Art

         Nanotechnology has the possibility of improving human life and expanding our horizons. It can be found almost everywhere from nanoparticles to different nanodevices. The technology used in this process is different from other fields of study as nanotechnology is used in reference to manipulating things on an atomic scale. With new movies coming out nowadays such as Marvel movies, people's conception of nanotech is skewed and hyper-focused on specific areas which don't encompass the full capacity that is nanotech. 

        A big part of nanotechnology that piqued my interest was nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are small particles that range between 1 to 100 nanometres in size. They have been used by different civilizations throughout history such as the Romans and during the Renaissance. The Romans were able to make a goblet that had nanoparticles of gold contained in it to turn the art piece into something extraordinary. The Lycurgus Cup used nanotechnology to cause the goblet to change color under different lighting. This was something almost unworldly at the time since nanotechnology was not known by most or even known on purpose at the time. 

        Another use of nanotechnology that is still used today is stained glass. Artists since the Renaissance have used nanotechnology with perhaps not a full understanding of what they were doing. However, the little knowledge they did have of nanotechnology helped them to create some amazing works of stained glass windows like the ones commonly seen in churches. The artists found a way to make a ruby red coloring by adding gold nanoparticles and to make a deep yellow by adding silver nanoparticles which helped create a foundation of science being involved with art. 

Pictures:

ComicBook. “‘Avengers: Infinity War’: Here’s What We Want to See from Iron Man’s ‘Bleeding Edge’ Armor.” Marvel, comicbook.com/marvel/news/bleeding-edge-armor-infinity-war/. Accessed 26 May 2023.

Yirka, Bob. “Goblet Tricks Suggests Ancient Romans Were First to Use Nanotechnology.” Phys.Org, 27 Aug. 2013, phys.org/news/2013-08-goblet-ancient-romans-nanotechnology.html#:~:text=Goblet%20tricks%20suggests%20ancient%20Romans%20were%20first%20to%20use%20nanotechnology,-by%20Bob%20Yirka&text=(Phys.org)%20%E2%80%94Recent,change%20color%20under%20different%20lighting.

“SXRR-9043-O Ruby Diamond Stained Glass - Opalescent.” Decorative Films, LLC., www.decorativefilm.com/sxrr-9043-o-ruby-diamond-stained-glass. Accessed 26 May 2023.

Source:

Yirka, Bob. “Goblet Tricks Suggests Ancient Romans Were First to Use Nanotechnology.” Phys.Org, 27 Aug. 2013, phys.org/news/2013-08-goblet-ancient-romans-nanotechnology.html#:~:text=Goblet%20tricks%20suggests%20ancient%20Romans%20were%20first%20to%20use%20nanotechnology,-by%20Bob%20Yirka&text=(Phys.org)%20%E2%80%94Recent,change%20color%20under%20different%20lighting.

Dispatch. “How Can Nanotechnology Impact Our Lives?” The NYU Dispatch, 24 Apr. 2019, wp.nyu.edu/dispatch/2019/04/24/how-can-nanotechnology-impact-our-lives/.

“Impact of Nanotechnology.” Wikipedia, 11 Mar. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_nanotechnology#:~:text=Major%20benefits%20of%20nanotechnology%20include,%2Dscale%20infrastructure%20auto%2Dfabrication.

 Chi Chan was program coordinator for innovation in the Institute’s Center for Contemporary History and Policy. “From Nanotech to Nanoscience.” Science History Institute, 3 Sept. 2020, www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/from-nanotech-to-nanoscience.

“Early Nanomaterials.” International Institute for Nanotechnology, 15 June 2021, www.iinano.org/pre-18th-century/#:~:text=Although%20they%20were%20unaware%20of,is%20due%20to%20silver%20nanoparticles.