Integration of Nanoscience into a Seventh Grade Science

Course

Peter J. WattsRiverside Middle School

Watertown, WIwattsp@watertown.k12.wi.us

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

http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~meroaldi/images/snowshoe%20hare.jpg

http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/FACTS/mammals/images/giraffe.jpg

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

http://www.ent.iastate.edu/images/lepidoptera/monarch/monarchonalf.jpg

http://www.cirrusimage.com/butterfly/viceroy_06.jpg

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 natureWe 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

http://www.lclark.edu/~autumn/PNAS/PNAS_images/GeckoFeet_300.jpg

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)

http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2005-04-05/azimi-biomimicry/Gecko01.jpg/asset_small

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20050108/a5757_1486.jpg

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

http://www.vigyanprasar.com/comcom/feature50.htm

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

http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=1020&setappvar=page(1)artcenterkey=1020&setappvar=page(1)

http://newdimensiontechnology.blogspot.com/2010/06/unknown-technology-in-nanotechnology.html

http://coolscitech.com/news/newsid=8.php

http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/Synthetic_setae

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: 1 - 20  microns,

Merck)

It cleans itself after a rainBarthlott and Neinhuis

http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ensab/B-man/tr_11_00/

Diagram showing a droplet cleaning a hydrophobic surface by rolling off http://lotus-shower.isunet.edu/the_lotus_effect.htm

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

http://www.physorg.com/news2730.html

Let’s look a some examples of nanoscale nature

http://semguy.com/gfx/eye.jpg

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/museum/profiles/hickman/images/sem.jpg

http://www.uochb.cas.cz/~natur/cameraria/sem-2.jpg

The horse chestnut leaf

miner

http://www.loria.fr/~rougier/artwork/neuro/

http://jeffreycarrier.net/?page_id=104

Denticles or placoid scales

http://www.prlog.org/10154998-sharklet-technologies-wins-early-stage-shootout-at-southeast-bios-investor-forum.html

This pattern improves shipping efficiency by reducing barnacle

growth

http://www.sciencelov.com/?p=3640

http://www.aecom.yu.edu/aif/gallery/sem/sem.htm

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/11/peering_into_the_micro_world.html

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/11/peering_into_the_micro_world.html

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/11/peering_into_the_micro_world.html

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 MooreDr. Andrew Greenberg

National Science Foundation

NSEC

University of Wisconsin- Madison

Institute for Chemical Education