Art is truly present in science. A team of Cornell University researchers have recently discovered that kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting "allows scientists to manipulate single-atom-thick sheets of carbon as if they were pieces of paper". The results from the painstaking task of graphene isolation (accomplished through dissolving aluminum underneath the material) - a stretchable sheet, a pyramid and a spiral, are lovely miniature versions of the same shapes on paper.
Photo from Melina Blees
According to the website of the graphene research community at Manchester University, graphene is
"a two dimensional material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb or chicken wire structure". It is the world's thinnest material, concurrently maintaining a spot as one of the world's strongest. An electrical conductor at par with copper, it also transparent. The Manchester research community declares that graphene "will revolutionize the 21st century". The findings of the Cornell research team adds another merit to this amazing material.
Besides that, the artistic output is not just for show. It is also purposeful. In the future, Cornell physicist Melina Blees said that in the future, tailored graphene structure can be used to measure the weight of small objects and a living cell's electrical signals.
The artistic possibilities from graphene manipulation are a reminder that art and science are not in two sides of a great divide. They are in harmony and should both be utilized to improve society. Whether you are from the sciences or the arts, remember to utilize the skills and wisdom gained from your field to give back to society.
The artistic possibilities from graphene manipulation are a reminder that art and science are not in two sides of a great divide. They are in harmony and should both be utilized to improve society. Whether you are from the sciences or the arts, remember to utilize the skills and wisdom gained from your field to give back to society.