Before this week, I was unfamiliar with the term nanotechnology. I was unaware that "almost every aspect of science and technology is somehow impacted by nanotechnology" (Gimzewski). Nanotechnology is everywhere and "...chances are that you have nanoparticles on you at the moment, but you don't even know it" (Gimzewski). Nanotechnology is what is going to push us over the edge into the future.
Self organization and self assembly are the bases of nano- technology. "Nano particles are very small and to make them nano by nano its not very practical"(Gimzewski), so we rely on molecules to organize themselves into higher structures. Nature has always depended upon this. The book Growth And Form from 1945 "looks at various beautiful structures in nature, for instance the snowflake" and shows how it transforms from simple water molecules into an intricate pattern. Trees and shells are also examples of self organization in nature. The blue morpho butterfly is an illustration of how self organization can be used on a nanoscale. The blue morpho butterfly is found in South America and has blue iridescent wings. The wings color does not come from pigment, but rather from a nanostructure. Light is manipulated on a nanoscale and reflects a light blue color. It is amazing to see such a beautiful creature that naturally appears like this, resembling a piece of art.
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| Blue Morpho Butterfly |
Image Sources:
SnowBrains. “Brain Post: Why No Two Snowflakes Look Alike.” SnowBrains, 3 June 2013, snowbrains.com/brain-post-why-no-two-snowflakes-look-alike/.
“Self-Assembly of Nanoparticles.” Wikiwand, www.wikiwand.com/en/Self-assembly_of_nanoparticles.
Clubb, Jeremy. “Top 8 Blue Morpho Butterfly Facts.” Rainforest Cruises, Rainforest Cruises, 19 Sept. 2016, www.rainforestcruises.com/jungle-blog/top-8-blue-morpho-butterfly-facts.
Works Cited:
“Blue Morpho Butterfly.” NISE Network, www.nisenet.org/content-keywords/blue-morpho-butterfly.
Saini, Rajiv, et al. “Nanotechnology: the Future Medicine.” Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, Medknow Publications, 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2890134/.
Wolpert, Stuart. “Best in Snow: New Scientific Device Creates Electricity from Snowfall.” Phys.org, Phys.org, 15 Apr. 2019, phys.org/news/2019-04-scientific-device-electricity-snowfall.html.
Sekhon, Bhupinder S. “Food Nanotechnology - an Overview.” Nanotechnology, Science and Applications, Dove Medical Press, 4 May 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3781769/.
UC Online. “Nanotech Jim pt3.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=741&v=X0HCNiU_108.
UC Online. “Nanotech Jim pt1.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=741&v=X0HCNiU_108.
UC Online. “Nanotech Jim pt5.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=741&v=X0HCNiU_108.
UC Online. “Nanotech Jim pt6.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=741&v=X0HCNiU_108.
Hey Gabrielle! We’re on the same page when it comes to having absolutely no prior knowledge about nanotechnology. It’s cool you were able to find research connecting nanotechnology to butterflies!
ReplyDeleteHi Gabrielle, Thank you for sharing! I think your summary of self-organization in the context of nanotechnology takes a unique stance on the topic. I think that using nanotech to explain visual phenomena like the butterfly is really cool. I recall reading an article about how nanotechnology is influencing the creations of new pigments for art and painting and your reflection reminded me of that.
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