NanoDays Festival: Why the Science of Very Small Things is a Very Big Deal

Press Release

NanoDays Festival: Why the Science of Very Small Things is a Very Big Deal
3-20-08

Queens, N.Y. – NanoDays is a nationwide event and you’re invited! From 12:30 - 4:30 pm on March 29 and 30, explore the incredibly large world of a very small science! Nanotechnology is used all around us, from sunglasses to cell phones, and is helping to pave the way to future technological innovations. Learn more about nano through specialized tabletop and cart activities.

Nano Tabletop Activities:

Exploring Measurements
Just how small is a nano? Find out how small a nanometer is by trying to cut down a small piece of paper.

Exploring Reactions
Find out why nano-sized things react differently than larger objects.

Exploring Ferrofluid
Discover a magnetic material that acts like a liquid. Ferrofluid is a unique magnetic material that acts like a liquid. Ferrofluid is made of nano-sized particles of magnetite suspended in a liquid.

Exploring Liquid Crystals
Liquid crystals are used in cell phone displays, laptop computer screens, and strip thermometers. Learn more about this technology by making your own liquid crystal sensor.

Nano Cart Activities:

Stain Resistant Fabrics
Visitors will understand how the nano-scale construction of Nano-Tex® fabric results in its stain-resistant properties.

Reversible Sunglasses
Visitors will understand how nano-scale switches in molecular structure can make plastic lenses darken in ultraviolet light.

Liquid Metals
Visitors will understand that the nano-scale structure of amorphous metals determines their elasticity.

Nano Resource Table in the Science & Technology Library
Explore various books about Nanotechnology.

NanoDays is a week of nationwide nano public outreach events organized by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). NISE Net is a national community of researchers and informal science educators dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science and technology.

NanoDays Festival is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ESI-05322536

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