Week 9 Space and Art

         I really enjoyed learning about space and art. One part of this week’s lectures that I thought was interesting was how space exploration involved nanotechnology. Bucky balls are carbon cages in space. Scientist has been conducting new research that has led them to believe that Bucky Balls are responsible for creation on earth. There are two parts to the Bucky ball that I think are really important. The first one is the structure of Bucky balls. Bucky Balls are shaped like soccer balls and are held together similar to the structure of a cage. However, they are small and hallow which makes them the perfect molecule for nanotechnologist to manipulate and research. The other part that I think is interesting is the idea that Bucky balls can have a significant medical impact in the future. The carbon structure of the Bucky balls makes them extremely strong. Therefore, nanotechnologist are conducting research to see if they can transport medicine to patients through Bucky balls. I think this could be vital to patient’s health, because it could lead to a safe, efficient, and effective way to treat patients in the future. Just like Victoria Vesna mentioned in the first lecture, Nanotechnology connects to biotechnology and other topics that we have discussed in class

  Another part of this week’s lectures that I found interesting, was the idea that space exploration started as an imagination. People’s dreams of going to space or extraterrestrial life were translated into science fiction movies. One of my favorite space movies is 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film revolves around a spacecraft that is bound for Jupiter. Unfortunately, when they are in space, the astronauts encounter multiple problems including a manipulative robot.  Although the film mainly takes place inside the spacecraft, the graphics of the film depict what Stanley Kubrick believed space and spacescrafts to look like. I think it is extremely cool that science fiction is now turning into reality. There is now virtual reality that can accurately depict what space looks like to the general public and there are spacecrafts that are taking people into space! Soon our world will no longer be confined to a single planet.

     

            Space exploration and art are extremely important in our evolving world. Luckily, artist are collaborating with scientist to show space to the general public, make a beneficial impact to the word, and hopefully turning space exploration into a reality.

Bibliography: 

 1. Lewin, Sarah. "Virtual Reality and Mars: 4 Ways Tech Will Change Space Exploration." Space.com. 18 May 2016. Web. 24 May 2016. <http://www.space.com/32912-virtual-reality-humans-to-mars.html>.

2. Ginny, Elizabeth. "Buckyballs in Space Solve 100-year-old Riddle." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, 15 July 2015. Web. 24 May 2016. <http://www.nature.com/news/buckyballs-in-space-solve-100-year-old-riddle-1.17987>.

3. "CODED UTOPIA." Continental Drift. 2007. Web. 24 May 2016. <https://brianholmes.wordpress.com/2007/03/27/coded-utopia/>.

4. Rhodes, Margaret. "The Amazingly Accurate Futurism of 2001: A Space Odyssey." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital. Web. 24 May 2016. <http://www.wired.com/2015/08/amazingly-accurate-futurism-2001-space-odyssey/>.

5. "Buckminsterfullerene." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 24 May 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminsterfullerene>.