HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM UCLA SCI | ART NANOLAB MMIX

Today all of the “impossible” grouped up in one auditorium, and shared its ideas. It was interesting, and amazing to listen to these new perspectives others had of the future, where nanotechnology played a large role in society. A couple of these projects included the nandage, a zombie hand-grenade and a bioluminescent nano-gel. The nandage consisted of a material similar to a band-aid that would be able to stretch and compress to fit any wound. This project impressed me, since it seemed extremely well thought-out and important for the future. These nandages would be able to revolutionize the world of medicine, and we’d be able to save thousands or millions of lives. As for our project, we threw out the concept of “what if… our lungs were surrounded by nano-bots that could filter out air and allow us to breathe underwater?” With this concept in hand, we presented our ideas in the form of a rap, led by Marcus. Our presentation was more on the artistic side, but we lacked certain technical details on how our nanobots would function. For example, at first we wanted the nanobots to be expelled through the digestive system. But, later on, a question was thrown out as to whether the intestines would digest the nanobots and the particulate matter that they were supposed to collect. Therefore, many alterations will have to occur in our project. However, we will certainly be able improve our science portion of our project throughout the next week as we film an infomercial.

http://www.lungusa.org/

http://science.howstuffworks.com/lightning2.htm

http://www.engr.psu.edu/AE/iec/abe/control/neg_ion.asp

http://www.medicinenet.com/electrolysis/article.htm

http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/pollution-main.html

Learning about photovoltaic cells in-depth opened the door of possibilies to me. These photovoltaic cells  that can harvest the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity without any form of pollution are fantastic. Other forms of renewable energy, such as nuclear energy carry their own hazards along with them. However, harvesting the sun’s energy carries no hazards, and the Sun is constant in showing up every day. The only problem is the lack of solar energy during the night. However, as we went around the lab visits, one of the professors explained to us that it might be possible to store energy into photovoltaic cells to harvest them later at night. Furthermore, what amazed me was the progress we’ve had in solar energy. Since I hadn’t heard much of photovoltaics in  a couple of years, I had completely forgotten about this method of renewable energy. However, today’s labs visit opened up my mind once again to solar energy as one of the best sources of renewable energy. The wind is unreliable, nuclear power is hazardous, and geothermal power is extremely expensive. This is why investment into solar energy is crucial. Furthermore, the tiny photovoltaic cells that the professor and his colleagues were inventing was a big surprise to me. If the concept of the tiny photovoltaic cells worked, then cities would be able to be lit up without the emission of greenhouse gases. This will definetely revolutionize not only how we harvest our energy, but it’ll revolutionize the economy and perhaps even cultures.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/solarcells.htm

http://www.nrel.gov/

http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/solar.html

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/solar-power/photo-voltaics/