Today we did an introduction into nanotechnology. I came to UCLA with extremely limited knowledge on the topic so I am glad that we had this lecture to start of the program. We also had a lecture about the correlation between art and science and even though I am beginning to see similarities between the two, I do not completely understand how they can really work together.
After the lectures, we went to the basement of the CNSI building and learned about the different kinds of microscopes they had. We looked at three: the atomic force microscope, 
the scanning electron microscope, and a regular light microscope. The lab was underground so that in the event of an earthquake, the machines, which are very fragile, would not be harmed. It also keeps other movements and noises out which can hinder the pictures that the microscopes take.
While in the lab, there was a large emphasis not on the actual machines ability to take the picture, but instead the individual’s ability to make a good sample. Since the the electron 
microscope samples have to be put into a vacuum, no living things could go into them unless the water in them was replaced or they were put into liquid nitrogen.
I thought today was very interested and it got me very excited for the rest of the week. The lab visits however, showed me that I would not want to work in a lab because I really dislike the environment. I want to learn about the other aspects of the subject before I make a firm judgement, however.
<http://www.cnsi.ucla.edu/>
<en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology>
<http://www.howstuffworks.com/light-microscope.htm/printable>
http://www.mos.org/sln/SEM/index.html
www.nanoscience.com/education/AFM.html