Nanotechnology is a relatively new field with many facets and definitions; one such definition is "a science that is concerned with control of matter at the scale of atoms and molecules". Artists find importance in nano-tech for its purpose of going beyond what a person can physically see, reinventing the groundworks of modern science, causing a true paradigm shift. One such art specialty that is intertwined with nanotechnology is the media; "Both nanotechnology and media arts...have common ground in addressing the issues of manipulation, particularly sensory perception...changing the way we think". Jim Gimzewski, a nanotechnologist at UCLA, describes nanotechnology as having the power and potential to change the world, socially and economically, with huge impact on food, energy, and agriculture especially. In fact, nano-tech is already present on the market; there are about 1,000 nanotechnology products currently being offered. In terms of agriculture, there exist nutraceuticals, edible nano wrappers and coatings, agrochemicals, nano sensors, cooking oils, teas, supplements, and long-life packaging, all which utilize nano science. Nano-medicine is another growing arena for the use of nano-technology; treatments to reduce the toxicity of cancer, Nano-drugs, Quantum Dots, and Nano-devices small enough to enter cells are all possibilities.
However good and helpful these nanotech-inspired inventions seem, public opinion is still skeptical since research isn't conclusive yet as to how safe nano-food and medicine is. Nano-foods could be developed that are extremely low in fat, but still taste great--somewhat of a nano-miracle. This doesn't necessarily mean its dangerous; our body already deals with breaking down food into nano-sized chunks on its own. Some food we are eating and drinking already contain nano particles, like some beer manufactured in the U.S. that contain flaky nano particles of clay which serve the purpose of filling up space in bottle walls. This makes it more difficult for CO2, the molecule that causes fizz, to be released from the beverage. But without proper regulation, nano-particles in food, medicine and other products could blow up in the public opinion like GMOs have, with great public backlash and suspicion. "European regulators are...trying to ensure that nanotechnology does not become the next GM". We all would like to know what we are ingesting, and that starts with proper testing of new technologies like nano tech.
Works Cited
N.p., n.d. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fwhat-is-nano%2Fwhat-you-need-know-about-nano-food>.
Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science." N.p., n.d. Web. <http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=0AF1EFEE1A90856EC5DB09D1E5AA8C79?doi=10.1.1.127.8516&rep=rep1&type=pdf>.
It is weird to think that clay could be in beer and we don't even notice it! Do you think that the use of nanoparticles is a bad thing? Or perhaps that we won't know without more testing? I think that nanotechnology is the technology of the future; however, we might want to be careful before we start throwing nanoparticles in everything we can think of.
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