Nano Days

For the tenth consecutive year at Highland Road Park Observatory, big things in the Universe take a backseat to all things tiny in this celebration of nanotechnology. When reduced to the width of a human hair or smaller, ordinary materials often take on extraordinary properties. The iridescent colors in butterfly wings are not created by pigments but instead by tiny patterns on the wings. Tinted glass in old cathedrals was made by mixing different sizes of gold particles to create a wide variety of colors. We are just beginning to understand these fascinating phenomena and their potential uses in everyday life. Nanotechnology promises advanced information processing and storage, new medical treatments and much more.

At this fun and education day, children and adults will understand how a Scanning Probe Microscope explores the nanoworld, try to pour water out of a nano-cup, learn about nanomaterials used in stain-free clothes, have a chance to build models of nanoscale structures, and even play with liquid crystals. Plus, solar viewing will take place from 3 pm to 5 pm and lunar viewing from 5:30 pm to 7 pm.

All events are from 3 pm–7 pm. No admission, for ages 6 and older. bro.lsu.edu.