Search: Fundamentals

A brief list of select nano resources for reference, a gentle introduction to nano, as well as some children's books suitable for read-aloud story-times or to augment another program.

Troy Dassler's 12 minute TEDx presentation about how he came to introduce nanoscience into his elementary school. Based on his experiences at Aldo Leopold Elementary School working with scientists at the University of Wisconsin MRSEC.

"Exploring Materials - Ferrofluid" is a hands-on activity demonstrating that a material can act differently when it's nanometer-sized. Visitors investigate the properties of ferrofluid and magnetic black sand, learning that the surprising difference in the behavior of these two materials is due to size.

“Macro, Micro and Nano Stretch-Ability” is a fun, hands AND feet on game which explores objects on several different scales. This activity teaches visitors about the macroscale, microscale and nanoscale, the objects within those scales and the way we measure these objects.

"Exploring Size - StretchAbility" is a hands and feet-on game that explores the different sizes of things in the world. Visitors learn that a nanometer is a billionth of a meter.

"Exploring Size - Tiny Ruler" is a hands-on activity investigating just how small a billionth of a meter is. Visitors attempt to cut a paper ruler down to a nanometer-sized sliver. They learn that nano is too small to see, and certainly too small to cut with a pair of scissors!

"Exploring Forces - Gravity" is a hands on activity in which visitors discover that it’s easy to pour water out of a regular-sized cup, but not out of a miniature cup. They learn that size can affect the way materials like water behave.

Mixing Molecules is a full-body immersive simulation demonstrating the collision of molecules at the nanoscale. The digital interface allows visitors to use their shadows to “push” animated molecules that are projected onto a screen in a darkened room. Visitors can manipulate the collsion of the molecules, speeding or slowing the formation of new compounds. The piece demonstrates the connection between the nanoscale - where individual molecules collide with each other - and the macroscale where many small random collisions appear as one larger, consistent motion.

Here is a curated selection of TEDTalks that relate to current nano science, technology, and engineering. From future medical applications to clean water, these videos give a voice and face to nano research. The resources section contains links to talks hosted at TED.com.

An overview of nanotechnology developed by IEEE, IBM, and the New York Hall of Science. The website includes information on materials and applications, interviews with nanotechnology experts, and extensive online resources such as lesson plans, games, and images.