Unit Eight - NanoTech + Art

My first thought when I read the title of this week’s topic was of sci-fi. Nanoscience is a popular topic for science fiction novels and movies. One of my favorite books that focuses on nanoscience is “Prey,” by Michael Crichton. This book details the adventures of a group of scientists who have created nano-scale robots that operate with hive-mind intelligence. Interestingly, this story reads as a cautionary tale against the dangers of scientific and technological advances. After comparing the book and this week’s lecture, there were quite a few differences to note, and I realized that science and technology, specifically in the context of nanotechnology, have many costs that come along with the benefits. The example of tiny robots impersonating people and taking over factories may be an extreme example of a con, but it serves the purpose of fostering awareness of the fact that developments can lead to consequences as well as positive effects for society.

Figure 1. "Prey," by Michael Crichton.

My other point in talking about books and movies such “Prey” is that just the fact that nanotechnology appears in these popular sources shows just how much science and art influence each other. I know I’ve said this pretty much every week this quarter, but taking this class makes everyday examples of this melding even more clear. Science inspires art, and vice versa, as artists envision ideas that scientists figure out how to carry out. A simple example of this that moves beyond movies and literature is how nanoscience is used to conserve works of art (Baglioni).

Figure 2. Nanoscience is used for art conservation.

Figure 3. Image made with atoms by IBM as part of nanotechnology research.

Works Cited

Baglioni, Piero. Nanoscience for the Conservation of Works of Art. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013. Print.

Crichton, Michael. Prey: Novel. New York: Harper Collins, 2002. Print.

Lovgren, Stefan. "Can Art Make Nanotechnology Easier to Understand?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 23 Dec. 2003. Web. 23 May 2015.

"Prey (novel)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 23 May 2015.

"Nanotechnology." National Geographic Education. Web. 23 May 2015.