Week 8: Nanotechnology + Art

This week’s topic of nanotechnology reminded me a lot of the material I’ve been learning in one of my other courses this quarter. I never really considered how large a nanometer (nm) was when memorizing that clathrin-coated pits were 100-150 nm in diameter, or that particles between 60 and 400 nm tend to allocate in regions with cancer due to the enhancer permeability and retention effect. I simply designed nanoparticles with the appropriate size not considering how abstract this nano-scale in relation to the human experience. However, upon learning that a human hair is 50,000 nm across, I had to stop and try and grasp what order of size this new field of science and technology is working with (Gimzewski and Vesna).

IBM holds the Guinness World Record for World's

Smallest Stop-Motion Film, created by moving

individual carbon monoxide molecules using a

scanning tunneling microscope.

Graphite Nanoparticles by Cris Ofrescu. Because many
nanoparticles are smaller than the wavelengths of visible
light, many images appear grey and white. It is up to the
interpretation of the artist to colorize the images for the viewer

When science fails to conceptually explain topics, sometimes it’s better to go to the arts and humanities to try and gather a better understanding. Art and media graphics have always had a way of making the miniscule and abstract appear understandable to the ordinary eye (Lovgren). In addition, scientists will also cross the border between the two cultures if they feel that their work can better be explained through art instead of jargon-filled text. In 2006, Cris Orfescu became fascinated by the molecular “landscapes” of various materials he observed in his lab and began to use these landscapes as inspiration for his art – coining the term “nanoart” (Feder). He proceeded to hold annual competitions for other artists that also drew inspiration from images of nanoscale landscapes. However, nanoscale objects are extremely difficult to image, in fact, we weren’t able to get any sort of image at the nanoscale until the development of the scanning electron microscope (Gimzewski, Nanotech pt. 2). These artists’ goal is to spark a curiosity in the general public so that the masses can better understand nanotechnology and thus support, rather than resist, the new age technology and medicine that nanoscience will inevitably pioneer.

Scanning Tunneling Microscope used by IBM.

The extremely small scale of nanotechnology has made it a target for research and funding because of its potential to solve so many of the impasses other scientific and technological fields face. This is because many of these obstacles involve physics at the macroscale, however as we shrink to the nanoscale, the laws of physics change and quantum effects dominate (Gimzewski, Nanotech pt.1). These new phenomena are much less explored, and thus researchers, artists, and entrepreneurs alike are all interested in what potential nanotechnology holds. I, myself, am excited for nanotechnology to lead the charge for a new paradigm shift in scientific research and the many problems society faces that nanotechnology will provide a solution for.

References

Feder, Barnaby J. “The Art of Nanotech.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Jan. 2008, bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/the-art-of-nanotech/.

Gimzewski, Jim. “Nanotech Jim pt1.” YouTube, Uconlineprogram, 21 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE.

Gimzewski, Jim. “Nanotech Jim pt2.” YouTube, Uconlineprogram, 21 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEp6t0v-v9c.

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, Jan. 2003, pp. 7–24., doi:10.1386/tear.1.1.7/0.

IBM. “A Boy And His Atom: The World's Smallest Movie.” YouTube, IBM, 30 Apr. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSCX78-8-q0.

IBM100. “Scanning Tunneling Microscope.” IBM - Archives - History of IBM - 1880 - United States, IBM Corporation, www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/microscope/.

Ofrescu, Cris. “Nanotechnology Art Gallery.” Nanotechnology Now, 23 Feb. 2017, www.nanotech-now.com/Art_Gallery/Cris-Orfescu.htm.

Lovgren, Stefan. “ Can Art Make Nanotechnology Easier to Understand?” National Geographic News, National Geographic Society, 23 Dec. 2003, news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/12/1223_031223_nanotechnology.html.

Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

The brain has and will continue to boggle scientists and fascinated artists for generations to come. In neuroscience, the brain is responsible for all bodily functions, voluntary and involuntary, and for all of our individual thoughts, conscious and unconscious.

An interesting mind exercise is to think about how you define death. Pop culture perpetuates this idea that death occurs when the heart stops, and that people can be brought back to life. But death has been found to be a continuous process that occurs not in the heart, but in the brain, which is why legally, death is defined as the “irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain,” or brain death (Braincraft; Singh).

George Dunn and Brian Edwards presenting their piece
"Self Reflected" at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia

This is why I think both scientists and artists alike are so fascinated by the brain. The idea that a 3-pound mass of neurons and ganglia encapsulated in every individual’s skull defines every single interaction that individual has with the world, effectively defining who that person is, seems surreal (University of Washington; Vesna, Lecture 1). From an engineering standpoint, modeling the brain to be able to do what nature has perfected seems impossible. From an artistic standpoint, capturing the sublime beauty embodied by such a powerful organ also seems impossible (and ironic).

Such captivation in the mechanics of the brain have led artists to pursue a deeper understanding of the brain’s response to art. There are many studies that have researched, at a base level, the link between color and psychological function in humans. Colors are present everywhere in the world, in our dreams, and are an important factor in many of our everyday decisions. Our minds build color-meaning connections that are either innate or acquired throughout life, and these connections can have involuntary effects on our minds and bodies (i.e. red’s association with dominance) (Elliot and Maier). A deeper understanding of our mind’s color-meaning connections is an important tool for artists in both the artistic realm and commercial realm (i.e. advertising). For scientists, these connections can be exploited for potential therapeutic treatments.

How some colors trigger innate responses by the brain and how
these responses can be exploited for better marketing.

Lastly, when I think about neuroscience and art, my mind jumps to psychology and the Rorschach Test. This inkblot test is a projective test designed by Hermann Rorschach to presumably reveal hidden emotions and internal conflicts of the tested. In essence, it attempts to link unconscious response to the inkblots with the conscious mechanism of thought formation and speech (Gargasz).

The ten official inkblot cards of the Rorschach Test.

References

DashBurst. “How to Use the Psychology of Colors When Marketing.” Small Business Trends, Small Business Trends, 6 May 2018, smallbiztrends.com/2014/06/psychology-of-colors.html.

Drinker, Will. “Giant Artwork Reflects The Gorgeous Complexity of The Human Brain.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 28 June 2016, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/brain-art-franklin-institute_us_576d65b3e4b017b379f5cb68.

Elliot, Andrew J., and Markus A. Maier. “Color Psychology: Effects of Perceiving Color on Psychological Functioning in Humans.” Annual Review of Psychology, vol. 65, no. 1, 26 June 2013, pp. 95–120., doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115035.

Gargasz, Zbigniew. “Zbigniew Gargasz | BLOG.” Zbigniew Gargasz BLOG, 28 Nov. 2011, www.gargasz.info/psychology-inkblot-test-secret-behind-10-inkblot-cards-images/.

Singh, Maanvi. “Why Hospitals And Families Still Struggle To Define Death.” NPR, NPR, 10 Jan. 2014, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/01/10/261391130/why-hospitals-and-families-still-struggle-to-define-death.

University of Washington. “Brain Facts.” Parmenides, Stage 2, faculty.washington.edu/chudler/ffacts.html.

Vesna, Victoria. YouTube, Uconlineprogram, 17 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI.

Week 6: BioTech + Art

BioArt is an intrinsic part of the development of science, and specifically for me as a bioengineering major, the biotechnology field of science. BioArt and the work of “outlaws and hackers” brings to light particular niches in the biotechnological community (usually genetic) that would’ve otherwise been ignored by “Big Bio” (Kelty). As a result, these niches draw attention to the new aesthetic interpretations, ethical concerns, and social effects that come with any new field of art.

"Biohackers" push the boundaries of ethics and biotechnology
by using themselves as a subject for their experiments, usually
involving genetics and taking place in their garage or basements.

Ethical concerns are especially relevant in this case because BioArt often triggers something in the heart and gut of the public. People have specific reactions to the scientific manipulation of life that is dependent on the social conditions they were raised under (i.e. family influences, religion). However, I also believe that BioArt should be triggering to at least some degree to get the viewer to rethink something about what it means to be alive. Where should artist’s draw this line? In the end I think that artists should have similar restrictions as scientists when it comes to protecting the health and safety of the public. However, there is little precedence on what should be a baseline on the ethical restrictions that should be placed on BioArt, so in this aspect, I feel that artists should be free to do as they please, as long as their art does not harm other living organisms.

The Eight Day by Eduardo Kac

Eduardo Kac’s The Eighth Day is a transgenic piece that investigated fluorescence in creatures by introducing to viewers what a world where only transgenic creatures exist and how a purely fluorescent world would look. Although fluorescent organisms are all different, they are all connected through their genetics in that their fluorescence all stem from the GFP coding gene. This piece includes a biobot that used the migration and proliferation of bioluminescent amoebas as its “brain.” Changes in the amoebas caused changes in biobot’s six legs, which allowed it to move around the exhibit. Something I thought was interesting about this particular experiment/project was how it also roped in the idea that transhumanism doesn’t necessarily apply just to humans, because enhancing these amoebas’ mobility via technology is analogous to the transhumanism movement.

Schematic for the compilation of fluorescent
creatures in Kac's The Eighth Day.

Life itself is a miracle, and its manipulation in the name of art is the only way to expose its hidden beauties. Humans and all living organisms are complex machines with secrets that we have only begun to understand.



References

eJournal of Arts and Technology. “The Eighth Day.” Crossings - Gallery - Kac - The Eighth Day, 

       crossings.tcd.ie/gallery/Kac/Eighth_Day/.

Kac, Eduardo. “THE EIGHTH DAY.” NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ENIGMA, www.ekac.org/8thday.html.

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

Savastio, Rebecca. “Biohacking: Exciting Science or Terrifying Threat? · Guardian Liberty Voice.” Guardian Liberty Voice, 15 Aug. 

       2016, guardianlv.com/2014/09/biohacking-exciting-science-or-terrifying-threat/.

Vesna, Victoria. “5 BioArt pt4.” YouTube, YouTube, 17 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7.

Event 2: The Construction of the Environment in Epigenetics Research

Pinel and I after her presentation.

This presentation by Clemence Pinel piqued my curiosity because I learned about epigenetics in a previous course and wanted to learn more. To my surprise, Pinel is a social scientist from King’s College London, and the presentation was on how researchers can gain this intangible currency of credibility, and then “exchange” this currency for actual funding for research, not about epigenetics. This credibility currency could be earned by boosting a research lab’s resume in three fields: profitability, mobility, and versatility ("The Construction of the Environment in Epigenetics Research, Pinel). This credibility is exchanged between labs through research collaborations that involve exchanging human/laboratory resources and expertise. The goal of these exchanges was to maximize results while minimizing costs.

Clemence Pinel

I found it interesting how Pinel portrayed scientists as being forced out of their comfort zone of research and into the marketing world as entrepreneurs, or “wild capitalists” as Bruno Latour calls them. Latour advocates eliminating the distinction between the social and technical elements of science, thus blending one’s marketability with one’s research content (Vrieze). Similar to starving animals forced to leave their home territory in search of food, researchers are starved of funding and forced to adapt themselves to a new competitive playing field if they are to attain funding for their research.

However, researchers are now also forced to change their topics of research (i.e. environmental factors in epigenetics research) to maximize their marketability. Certain environmental factors such as smoking and alcohol provide strong, conclusive results, which is what many financial backers want to see come out of the research they invest in.

Smoking by a pregnant mother can lead to epigenetic effects
3 generations into the future

Lastly, I found it upsetting that, in the end, even science has been bought out by money and what is researched is controlled by the wealthy. I believe research can be exploratory and does not always have to yield market profit, but unfortunately, that is not the world we live in. In addition, funding by investors that have a financial interest in the outcome of experiments breed conflicts of interest that lead to biased conclusions (Belluz et. al.).

As a bioengineer going into this world of research, I found this presentation valuable, but slightly disheartening, to prepare myself to seek credibility through collaborations and market myself as a profitable investment opportunity. I would advise anyone who plans on going into the world of research to attend a talk hosted by Pinel or at least look into the conclusions Pinel presented on.

References

Belluz, Julia, et al. “The 7 Biggest Problems Facing Science, According to 270 Scientists.” Vox, Vox, 14 July 2016, www.vox.com/2016/7/14/12016710/science-challeges-research-funding-peer-review-process.

Pinel, Clémence. "The Construction Of The Environment In Epigenetics Research: A Social Study". 2018.

Pinel, Clémence. “Clémence Pinel (@Clemencepinel).” Twitter, Twitter, 14 May 2018, twitter.com/clemencepinel.

Shaw, Jonathan. “Is Epigenetics Inherited?” Harvard Magazine, 14 Apr. 2017, harvardmagazine.com/2017/05/is-epigenetics-inherited. 

Vrieze, Jop de. “Bruno Latour, a Veteran of the 'Science Wars,' Has a New Mission.” Science |

AAAS, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 10 Oct. 2017, www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/10/bruno-latour-veteran-science-wars-has-new-mission.