Unveiling the future: Bringing nanotechnology into the classroom

Where have I heard of nanotechnology before? The iPod nano Fantastic Voyage (1966) I, Robot (2004) starring Will Smith The Diamond Age by Neil Stephenson Micro or Prey by Michael Crichton The Snow Queen by Joan Vinge Star Trek: The Future Generation episode

Nanotechnology The hot buzzword of the new millennium Nano, Greek, “dwarf,” meaning one billionth Measurement at this level is in nanometers – billionths of a meter A strand of human hair is roughly 75,000 nm across Ten hydrogen atoms, end to end = 1 nm.

Something old … Chemists, for hundreds of years Medieval churches, stained glass window (contain different-size gold nanoparticles incorporated into the glass) Albert Einstein, as part of his doctoral dissertation, calculated the size of a sugar molecule as one nanometer.

The vision 1959: Caltech physicist Richard Feynman gave a talk “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom,” outlining the prospects for atomic engineering.

Something new Researchers are aggressively focusing efforts to develop applied technology (at the 1 nm-to-100 nm range. An emergence of the right tools for the job to control/manipulate at the atomic scale Nanotechnology creates and uses structures that have novel properties because of their small size

Novel properties When we go “nano,” the interactions and physics between atoms display exotic properties that they don’t at larger scales. Atoms at this level leave the realm of classical physical properties behind and venture into the world of quantum mechanics.

To illustrate this … “Physical intuition fails miserably in the nanoworld … you see all kinds of unusual effects.” For example, even our everyday electrons act unusual at the nano level: “It’s like throwing a tennis ball at a garage door and having the ball pop out the other side.” -- David Rotman, “Will the Real Nanotech Please Stand Up?,” quoting Mark Reed

Another illustration A gold nanoparticle has a color, melting point, and chemical property different from those you would find in a macro-scale Fort Knox gold brick. The reason? The interactions of the gold atoms in the larger gold brick average out, changing the overall properties and appearance of the object. The single particle is free of the averaging effects of countless other gold atoms.

How is this now possible? Tools such as the atomic force microscope or the scanning tunneling microscope Scientists can see and manipulate matter atom by atom

Nanotechnology … Brings together to work side by side: Chemists Physicists Medical doctors Engineers Biologists Computer scientists

Why We Want This in Our Lives … In the field of Security … Superior, lightweight materials Advanced computing Increased situational awareness Powerful munitions

Why We Want This in Our Lives … In the field of Healthcare … Diagnostics Novel drugs

Why We Want This in Our Lives … Concerning resources we all use … Energy Water

Why We Want To Bring This into our Students’ Lives … The next major scientific revolution Careers possible: Biomedical research Chemical engineering Materials science Physics Environmental engineering

Bringing nanotechnology into the classroom

Fact … or fiction?

Philosophical chairs Position yourself on the side of the room that best represents whether you think the statement is fact or fiction. If you believe the correct response lies between the two sides you can place yourself in the middle. Be prepared to share the reasoning you used to make the judgment.

Fact … or fiction? 1. There are currently biological nanomachines that naturally exist in your body. Source: Nanoscale Science

Fact

Fact … or fiction? 2. Tiny nanotweezers can be used to pick up nanometer-sized molecules and move them around to build different structures.

Fact

Fact … or fiction? 3. Gold nano-sized bullets can be injected into the body to kill cancer cells.

Fact

Fact … or fiction? 4. Scientists have created a nano-sized car that has four doors, tires and tiny seats and can move around freely.

Fiction

Fact … or fiction? 5. There are clothes that don’t stain due to nanotechnology. You can throw coffee on khaki nanopants, and the coffee just rolls off.

Fact

Fact … or fiction? 6. Through nanotechnology, ice cream is being made that is lower in fat and better for you.

Fact

Fact … or fiction? 7. NASA plans to build a space elevator that would use carbon nanotubes to move materials from Earth to outer space.

Fiction

Fact … or fiction? 8. Nanoparticles have been shown to cause liver damage and can move into the brain.

Partially fact Royalty-free image. Copyright Artyom YefimovArtyom Yefimov

Fact … or fiction? 9. Self-cleaning toilets are now available. These toilets are made with nanotechnology that keeps the porcelain clean.

Partially fact Royalty-free image. Copyright Artyom YefimovArtyom Yefimov

Fact … or fiction? 9. Self-cleaning toilets are now available. These toilets are made with nanotechnology that keeps the porcelain clean.

Fact

Fact … or fiction? 10. Through nanotechnology, steaks can be made atom by atom such that cows are no longer needed to produce the meat.

Fiction

Into the math classroom Helping students grasp a billion and, thus, a billionth through engaging activities Viewing the “Powers of Ten” clip available on YouTube Working with exponents down to the nano scale Creating models of exponential growth

Into the science classroom Helping students grasp a billionth through dilution activities Viewing “Powers of Ten” clip available on YouTube Having students envision and create wearable devices of the future that signal the likely onset of health problems

Into the science classroom Creating models of viruses and exploring how self-replication can benefit nanotechnology applications Exploring how nature’s patterns are being studied for benefits to humans, including the design and features of garments