WEEK 8 | NANOTECHNOLOGY + ART | 🦋🎨

In this week’s lecture, I was able to appreciate the connection nanotechnology, the alteration of matter on a near-atomic scale has with art. Nanotechnology is art for it derives from human curiosity and imagination, which inspire folk to produce colorful works. 

 Stained Glass Skylight (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles)

Growing up Catholic, vibrant stained glass windows have always been prominent in my life since it is highly integrated into Roman Catholic church architecture. I remember being intrigued by how beautiful the colors reflected on the church pews, the walls, and the floors. I had no idea nanotechnology played a huge role in this beauty. 

 Stained Glass Skylight (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles)

As Gimzewski explained, nanosized gold particles introduced this structural coloration that generates a variety of colors and pigments (Gimzewski). For instance, the gold and silver nanoparticles embedded in these glass artworks reflect red and yellow light (NISE Network). The science behind this is as the size of nanoparticles increases, the wavelengths reflected are the ones that decreased (Lau). So in this case, because the size of the gold nanoparticles is bigger, the longer wavelengths of the red color they absorb will reflect the shorter wavelengths of the blue color. 

Interestingly, this occurrence happens in nature as well! As Gimzewski introduced in the lecture,  the Blue Morpho butterfly is an example of nature using self-organization on a nanoscale (Gimzewski). Contrary to its name, this butterfly is actually not blue! Blue pigment is actually hard to find in nature. The blue color we see with our eyes is a nanostructure that manipulates and reflects a blue iridescent color. In other words, the blue we see is just a way light reflects off of microscopic scales called tetrahedra (Active Wild). 

This week’s content was really interesting because before, I did not pay attention much to the science behind seeing color but I hope to share this information with other people because I find the production of color super fascinating. I found a new deeper appreciation for nanotechnology and its connection to art.

Citations

Active Wild. “Blue Morpho Butterfly Facts.” Active Wild, Active Wild, 2 Feb. 2021, www.activewild.com/blue-morpho-butterfly-facts/.  

Gimzewski, James. "Nanotech for Artists Part 3." Lecture. 21 May. 2012,  UCLA, Los Angeles, California. Class lecture.

Gimzewski, James. "Nanotech for Artists Part 5." Lecture. 21 May. 2012,  UCLA, Los Angeles, California. Class lecture.

Lau, Henry. “Stained Glass: The History, the Art and the Science.” Science Focus, Science Focus, 2021, sciencefocus.ust.hk/stained-glass-the-history-the-art-and-the-science.   

National Geographic. “Animals Cannot Be Blue | Explorer.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Feb. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN7krvnm2uM. 

Natural History Museum. “The Rotunda: Admire the Three Graces Statue, Crowned by a Stained Glass Dome.” Natural History Museum, Natural History Museum, 2022, nhm.org/experience-nhm/exhibitions-natural-history-museum/rotunda

NISE Network. “Nanoparticle Stained Glass (CART Demo).” NISE Network, The National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Network), 2008, www.nisenet.org/catalog/nanoparticle-stained-glass-cart-demo#:~:text=%22Nanoparticle%20Stained%20Glass%22%20is%20a,silver%20embedded%20in%20the%20glass.   

Saas, Mae Ann. “Holy Name Catholic Church Features a Rather Notable Stain Glass Window .” Eidos Architects, Eidos Architects, 13 Nov. 2020, eidosarch.com/holy-name-catholic-church-features-a-rather-notable-stain-glass-window/.