NanoTech+Art

When you think about nanotechnology, art is not the first thing that comes to ones mind. Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and engineering. Because you cannot see this science with the naked eye, one does not think of it as being a form of art. In reality, it is an art form. Although we have not discussed science at the atomic level, we have discussed how science is art. 

Nanotechnology is not something that can be taken on alone. As we saw in the Vesna intro, it is collaborative effort, just as art is becoming. Art is a creative process, just as science is. The technology put into nanotechnology is truly an art form. Richard Feynman once gave a talk where he discussed how much room there was for development at the atomic level. He was very interested in how he could manipulate things at the atomic level, and what he discovered was that there was infinite room for improvement. 

The science that goes into the nanotechnology is truly an art form. Self assembly and self organization are key to nanotechnology. The structures that are involved and formed can be seen as art. Although one cannot actually see the molecules, with the help of technology, one can see them clearly. They can form beautiful structures that is appealing to many people. Although this may not have been the most intriguing topic for me, I still enjoyed learning about nanotechnology. 

Sources: 

"There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.

Curtin, John. "Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Art.base. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2015. <https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

"Richard Feynman Introduces the World to Nanotechnology with Two Seminal Lectures (1959 & 1984)." Open Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.

"Morpho." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.

"Research and Innovation Communications." How Butterfly Wings Can Inspire New High-Tech 

Surfaces. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria and Gimzewski, Jim. “The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact and fiction in the construction of a new science.”

Neuroscience and Art

As seen previously, art and science are very connected. Art can provide a foundation for many different things. One of these things is science, and more specifically neuroscience.  Neuroscience has anything to do with the manipulation, pharmacology, development or structure of the nervous system. We are continually making advancements in this field, and many of these advancements come from art. First of all, the technology we use in the field or neuroscience is all considered art. The structures we make, and the perspectives we use to create these structures is truly mind-blowing. 

A neuroscientist, Mark Cohen, looked deeply into this field, and conducted many studies. He made a study altered a person's perception through goggles, and over time the neurological adjustment became quicker and quicker, proving the nervous system's ability to adapt. The goggles altered the person's perception and turned everything upside down. He found that while the altered perception does take awhile, after frequently taking the goggles on and off, your brain reacts much quicker time after time (Cohen). 

Not only is art connected to neuroscience through technology, it also connected through the structure of the neurological system. Scientists have discovered the affects certain things have on the neurological system, and it is amazing how much the system is affected. Things such as music can trigger the neurological system and help express emotions. Neuroscience is clearly linked to art, and it is great to see the two intertwine. 

Sources:

 Cohen, Mark. Neuroscience-Mark Cohen. 2012. Web. 17 May 2015.

Costandi, Mo. "The Discovery of the Neuron." Neurophilosophy. Wordpress, 29 Aug. 2006. Web. 15 May 2015

“Neuroscience.” Dictionary.com 2015. Web. 17 May 2015

Penrose, Roger. ""Consciousness Involves Noncomputable Ingredients"." Edge.org. Simon and Schuster. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.edge.org/documents/ThirdCulture/v-Ch.14.html>.

"The Neuroscience Of Music." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, n.d. Web. 18 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience Pt. 1. "Youtube. 17 May 2012. Web. 15 May 2015.

Biotechnology and Art

Biotechnology is something that really came across as being interesting to me. It is something that I have never really looked into, but after looking into it, I discovered just how complex this controversial enigma truly is. It ranges from simple genetic modifications to cloning, and even has the potential to be an aid to the solution to third world hunger. I learned that biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet. Joe Davis wrote a book about biotechnology, acknowledging what life is, and what it means when we actually manipulate life.

Something that really caught my attention was the connection between biotechnology and the animal world. Artificial insemination is something that really struck me as being fascinating. It is what stuck with me the most after reading about what Davis had to say. That is the very thing that I feel like he is talking about when he speaks of manipulating life. In essence, it is factoring out natural selection, and making whatever you want so that it is the best. This tactic is extremely helpful for those in the agricultural business, as they can easily inseminate their livestock, and create exactly what they want the baby to be like. Artificial insemination is the process of collecting sperm cells from a male animal and manually depositing them into the reproductive tract of a female. It is commonly used instead of natural mating in many species of animals because it can have so many different benefits. Some examples of these benefits are increased safety of the animals and producer, increased production efficiency, and better genetics.

Biotechnology is a prime example of art, as the connection is clear. Life itself is art, and the creation of life is even more a matter of art. People are using technology to create new pieces of art and to become more productive. 










Sources:
"Animal Biotechnology." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 09 May 2015.
"Artificial Insemination Costs, Risks, Procedure." DocShop Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2015.
"Artificial Insemination." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 May 2015.
ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 11 May 2015.
Vesna, Victoria, narr. “BioTech Art Lectures I-V.” N.p., . web. 8 May 2015.
"What Is Biotechnology?" What Is Biotechnology? N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2015.