Integration of Nanoscience into a Seventh Grade Science Course Peter J. Watts Riverside Middle School Watertown, WI

From Earth Science to Life Science Nature uses efficient means to create the many unique properties found in the structures of minerals, plant and animals It is impossible to separate geology and biology. The biotic and abiotic components of the environment interact constantly and are often dependent on one another Animals and plants have many surprising adaptations making them especially successful in their respective niches

Nature has adapted structures to suit the needs of the organism. These help the organism survive Camouflage is a color adaptation while extremely long necks is a physiological adaptation

Animals sometimes mimic other animals. On the left is a Monarch butterfly and on the right is a Viceroy butterfly. Look closely for subtle differences Why would a Viceroy want to look like a Monarch?

Nature has produced some fantastic survival designs that include behavior, color, and body morphology which can be observed on the MACROSCALE… But what about NANOSCALE adaptations? Can scientists look at organisms at the tiniest levels and learn from these designs?

Humans can learn from nature We can build more effective tools and develop better technologies for solving problems by observing nature’s designs Instead of ‘reinventing the wheel’ we can use those designs already found in nature We refer to this as Geomimicry and Biomimicry

Biomimicry “Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate) is a new science that studies nature's best ideas and then imitates these designs and processes to solve human problems. Studying a leaf to invent a better solar cell is an example. I think of it as "innovation inspired by nature.” Janine Benyus

Nature’s array of structure and design is amazing. These are just a few examples of Gecko feet

Geckos have millions of microscopic hairs on the bottom of their feet that act like an adhesive, allowing them to climb up walls and even on glass (Kellar Autumn/Lewis & Clark College)

When the underside of a gecko toe (left) was dusted with microspheres and pressed onto glass, millions of sticky fibers in the thin, plate- like structures shed microspheres onto the glass, leaving a print visible under laser light (right)

“In fact, the adhesive is so strong that a single seta can lift the weight of an ant. A million setae, which could easily fit onto the area of a dime, could lift a 45-pound child.” Dr. Kellar Autumn, a biologist at Lewis and Clark College

Researchers have figured out the secret to Gecko design: Dirt weakens adhesive bonds. If we can find a way to shed surface dirt we could improve surface-attachment design for mountain climbers and even robots!

Scientists have made Carbon Nanotubes that mimic Gecko Feet

The Lotus Effect: Another of Nature’s designs This is a lotus leaf that has been covered with a sprinkling of fine red powder (Sudan-III pigment powder: microns, Merck) It cleans itself after a rain Barthlott and Neinhuis /

Diagram showing a droplet cleaning a hydrophobic surface by rolling off Lotus leaves are HYDROPHOBIC which means they don’t like water and repel it. As the water slides down the leaf it picks up debris. This effect is caused by nanosized ‘bumps’ on the surface of the leaves

Self Cleaning Windows? Copying the nanostructures on a Lotus leaf, scientists and engineers have developed a bumpy glass that is self cleaning. Sprays have also been produced that coat almost any surface to keep it clean and dry

Let’s look a some examples of nanoscale nature

The horse chestnut leaf miner

Denticles or placoid scales

This pattern improves shipping efficiency by reducing barnacle growth

If we look closely at nature we might be able to solve almost any problem facing humankind… Think about this: You’re an inventor… How will you use Nanoscience & Nanotechnology in some new invention?

Thanks to the following for their support and expertise: Dr. John Moore Dr. Andrew Greenberg National Science Foundation NSEC University of Wisconsin- Madison Institute for Chemical Education