Integration of Nanoscience into

a Seventh Grade Science Course

Peter J. Watts
Riverside Middle School
Watertown, WI
wattsp@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.lpzoo.com/animals/FACTS/mammals/images/giraffe.jpg
http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~meroaldi/images/snowshoe%20hare.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 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

http://www.lclark.edu/~autumn/PNAS/PNAS_images/GeckoFeet_300.jpg
 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)
 http://www.vigyanprasar.com/comcom/feature50.htm

“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

http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?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

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

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 rain
Barthlott and Neinhuis
 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

Diagram showing a droplet cleaning a hydrophobic surface by rolling off

http://lotus-shower.isunet.edu/the_lotus_effect.htm
 Self Cleaning Windows?
Copying the
nanostructures on a
Lotus leaf, scientists
and engineers have
developed a bumpy
glass that is self
cleaning. http://www.physorg.com/news2730.html

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

http://semguy.com/gfx/eye.jpg
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/museum/profiles/hickman/images/sem.jpg
 The horse
chestnut leaf
miner

http://www.uochb.cas.cz/~natur/cameraria/sem-2.jpg
http://www.loria.fr/~rougier/artwork/neuro/
Denticles or placoid scales

http://jeffreycarrier.net/?page_id=104
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 Moore
Dr. Andrew Greenberg

National Science Foundation

NSEC

University of Wisconsin- Madison

Institute for Chemical Education