Week 8 Nanotech + art

The direct definition of nanotechnology is, the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. Art and nanotech share similar components in their composition. Nanotechnology is all around us already and most people have no idea. It has been used to create stronger sunscreens, wound dressings, corrosion resistant paint, and many more things. 

There are also a lot of examples of nanotechnology in movies like Big Hero 6 and Ant-man. In the kids movie Big Hero 6 there are many different technologies that are showcased, but one of the main one inventions is microbots that respond to neural stimulation and will take the form of whatever the user can imagine.

Most people think that its another form of technology that's man-made like our laptops, cell phones or other stuff, but in fact, nanotechnology refers to technology that is manipulated on a molecular level, rather than what we see in front of our eyes. Nanotechnology helps create things much smaller like stronger sunscreen, or corrosion resistant plants, so on other words, nanotechnology is used for enhancing and strengthening things in our modern world today.

Sources:

“Nanotechnology: A Simple and Fun Introduction!” Explain That Stuff, 5 Dec. 2018, www.explainthatstuff.com/nanotechnologyforkids.html.

ScreenPrism. “ScreenPrism.” Does Technology like That Seen in "Big Hero 6" Actually Exist, screenprism.com/insights/article/does-any-technology-like-that-seen-in-big-hero-6-actually-exist.

“NanoArt: Nanotechnology and Art.” Academy of NanoArt, nanoart.org/nanoart-nanotechnology-art/.

Dillow, Clay. “The World's First Programmable Nanoprocessor Takes Complex Circuitry to the Nanoscale.” Popular Science, 9 Feb. 2011, www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-02/worlds-first-programmable-nanoprocessor-takes-complex-circuitry-nanoscale.

Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. “The Nanoneme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact and Fiction in the Construction of a New Science.” Technoetic Arts, vol. 1, no. 1, 2003, pp. 7–24., doi:10.1386/tear.1.1.7/0.

Week 7 Neurosci + Art

The brain in the most complex and unique organ of a human body. Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system which consists of nerves that are all around the human body. The initial organ that tells these nervous what to do, how to respond, and what to feel is the brain. Neuroscience is unique in the fact that it allows for an endless spread of ideas and attitudes for individuals to have.  the brain dictates every choice we make and that includes the creativity that we experience.

Looking back on the history of what we were able to come up with and understand and watching how it has changed and developed over time as different brains have worked through it is like watching a person perfect their style of art. You can see the different strokes that they used to use and they way they chose colors, you can see how the brain would comprehend a question and provide an answer and then how other brains would argue that answer.

The overlap of science and art also brings attention to the fact that two things that were thought to be completely separate can actually be used together. Using art in neuroscience can also help scientists map the brain in different ways.

Sources: 

Davis, Joe. “Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture.” Joe Davis, geneticsandculture.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_joe.htm.

Kelty, Christopher M. “Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?” Journal of Science Communication, Mar. 2010.

Snowden, Heather. “Jordan Peele's 'Us': 4 Things You Might Have Missed.” Highsnobiety, Highsnobiety, 25 Mar. 2019, www.highsnobiety.com/p/jordan-peele-us-movie-references/.

Chin, Mel. “Revival Field.” Mel Chin, melchin.org/oeuvre/revival-field.

Venter, Craig. “Transcript of ‘Watch Me Unveil ‘Synthetic Life’".” TED, May 2010, www.ted.com/talks/craig_venter_unveils_synthetic_life/transcript.

BioTech + Art Week 6

Biotech and art are two subjects that compliment each other and have the potential to evolve to become something revolutionary. With the advancement in technology cloning and other methods of biotech are becoming more accurate and successful. 

At some point in the 17th century, the British scientist Robert Hooke peered into his microscope and discovered that the sliver of cork he was examining was not a solid block of material but a honeycomb of hundreds of thousands of cells. This discovery led to revolutions in biological science. In just the last 60 years, the architecture of DNA has been decoded, in-vitro babies have been born, and sheep have been cloned. 

Edoardo Kac is responsible for creating a mutant bunny using the art of biotech. A mutant glow-in-the-dark rabbit is at the centre of war between an artist who claims he dreamed her up and the French scientists who created her. Alba was born in February at the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA) in Paris. Edouardo Kac planned to display Alba in Avignon, and then take her to live with his family in Chicago. He intended his green fluorescent bunny project to capture the theme of biotechnology and its relation to family life and public debate. 

 

“Impacts of Genetically Modified Animals on the Ecosystem and Human Activities.” Taylor & Francis, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/11287462.2014.894709.

Levy, Ellen K. “Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications.” Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications.

TRANSGENIC ART by Eduardo Kac, www.ekac.org/transgenic.html.

“Transgenic Bunny by Eduardo Kac.” GNN - Genome News Network, www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/03_02/bunny_art.shtml.

Venter, Craig. “Watch Me Unveil ‘Synthetic Life.’” TED, www.ted.com/talks/craig_venter_unveils_synthetic_life.