week eight blog | susana esqueda, desma9
Wk8 Blog
This week’s content was really interesting because it allowed me to better understand nanotechnology as something that can exist in my everyday life. Honestly, before learning about nanotechnology from Dr. Gimzewski and conducting my own research on the topic, I thought nanotechnology was incredibly far-fetched, only truly existing in the sci-fi realm. The only time I had really heard it mentioned was in action superhero movies like Marvel’s Spiderman and Ant-Man films, so I am really grateful to have been able to have the opportunity to learn more about this topic this week.
Kristoff, Arnold, et al. Nano Magazine - Latest Nanotechnology News, 23 Mar. 2022, www.nano-magazine.com/news/tag/nature.
Dr. Gimzewski’s lectures were very informative; he mentioned how nanotechnology and nanostructures are everywhere—from nature itself, to the everyday products we stumble upon in the market (Gimzewski). Nature consists of nanostructures and nanoparticles, seen in “smoke, sea spray and volcanic ash, as well as minerals, soils, salt particles and biogenic particles” (Barnard). Even within other examples—from the blue morpho butterfly and its blue pigment, to the lotus leaf’s “self-cleaning effect” (NNCI)—nanostructures are viscerally in nature. Therefore, by using the nanostructures in nature as a guide scientists attempt to replicate these effects into everyday products, such as cleaning products.
“Combining Nanotechnology with Nature to Create Waterproof Coatings for Leather and Textiles.” AZoM.Com, 15 Oct. 2020, www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=14157.
Something that was especially intriguing was seeing how nanotechnology is influencing food politics and the food market. It is used in various forms, such as to “enhance plant growth and disease resistance” (Berger), as well as to “improve the food quality and…[enhance] food taste” (Singh). In fact, nanotechnology is also being utilized for food packaging, which could “reduce the amount of plastic used” (Sanderson) and have a deeply impactful environmental effect. I am excited to see the future of nanotech, and how it can be utilized to cultivate sustainable food practices and policies, and its impact on the overarching frameworks of science and culture.
Critchley, Liam. “How Nanotechnology Could Change Food Packaging.” Nano Magazine - Latest Nanotechnology News, 20 Apr. 2019, www.nano-magazine.com/news/2019/4/20/how-nanotechnology-could-change-food-packaging.
Reference List
Barnard, Amanda, and Chennupati Jagadish. “Nanoscience: Thinking Big, Working Small.” Curious, 19 Sept. 2019, www.science.org.au/curious/nanoscience#:~:text=Nanomaterials%20such%20as%20nanoplates%2C%20nanoparticles,salt%20particles%20and%20biogenic%20particles.
Berger, Michael. “Nanotechnology in Food.” Nanotechnology, 2 Feb. 2023, www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-in-food.php.
Gimzewski, James K. “Introduction to nanotechnology for artists. Part 5.” CNSI UCLA, 21 May 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OWc8nmHJmY
Gimzewski, James K. “Introduction to nanotechnology for artists. Part 6.” CNSI UCLA, 21 May 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKlViSKkPd0&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7
“Nature Helps Nanotechnology.” NNCI, www.nnci.net/nature-helps-nanotechnology#:~:text=They%20include%20inorganic%20materials%20such,wing%20ribs%20and%20epidermal%20projections. Accessed 25 May 2023.
Sanderson, Katharine. “What You Need to Know about Nano-Food.” The Guardian, 26 Apr. 2013, www.theguardian.com/what-is-nano/what-you-need-know-about-nano-food.
Singh, Trepti, et al. “Application of Nanotechnology in Food Science: Perception and Overview.” Frontiers, 26 July 2017, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01501/full.
Images
“Combining Nanotechnology with Nature to Create Waterproof Coatings for Leather and Textiles.” AZoM.Com, 15 Oct. 2020, www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=14157.
Critchley, Liam. “How Nanotechnology Could Change Food Packaging.” Nano Magazine - Latest Nanotechnology News, 20 Apr. 2019, www.nano-magazine.com/news/2019/4/20/how-nanotechnology-could-change-food-packaging.
Kristoff, Arnold, et al. Nano Magazine - Latest Nanotechnology News, 23 Mar. 2022, www.nano-magazine.com/news/tag/nature.
Hi Susana!!!
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned, I always found Dr. Gimzewski's lecture videos to be really insightful about the topic of nanotechnology and how it is implemented into science and art. I really enjoyed you talking about nanotechnology and how it affects food politics and markets, because it shows how nanotechnology is growing and changing society. Great job on your blog post!
Jayden
Hey Susana! I enjoyed reading your blog! I can agree with only knowing about nanotechnology through the Marvel Universe because I am a fan as well! Dr. Gimzewski was able to shed more light on the subject and how it is in fact, everywhere. I also talked about how it affects food politics and the food market in my blog, so it is really interesting how this can be helpful to it along with the environment. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights!
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