Junior Science Academy

Kids learn about latest in nanotechology

Brothers Matt and Will Wolfe last month got a look at some of the latest equipment used in the science of nanotechnology. That's where scientists study sub-molecular particles to solve big problems.

Matt Wolfe

The two were among a group of local Junior Science Academy members touring the Center of Nanoscience at University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Thirteen-year-old Matt said, "It was pretty cool the way the electron microscope showed the structure of a polymer material." Center director Jingyue (Jimmy) Liu was studying the plastic for its electro-magnetic and conductivity properties.

Will Wolfe

Dr. Liu greeted the kids at the start of their tour. Then, he met them again in Microscopy Image and Spectroscopy Lab. That's where Dr. Liu can study the particles that are thousands and thousands times smaller than the width of a single human hair.

One of the kids asked Dr. Liu what will be the hottest scientific careers in the years when they are ready to enter the work force.

Dr. Liu said he thought biology will have some of the most attractive career opportunities. That will be where scientists look for solutions to world problems of disease and nutrition.

But, he said the area of alternative energy also will be hot.

Dr. Liu demonstrates electron microscope

Nanotechnology figures in all these fields because scientists feel answers to big problems may be found in how small particles operate.

For instance, the kids talked to a Washington University graduate student who was breaking down amino acids into their chemical parts. Amino acids are considered one of the building blocks of life.

The scientists hope to find out how individual cells remember what they're supposed to do. If they can find that out, maybe they can understand why brain cells change.

Maybe that will be a key to why Alzheimer's Disease causes the whole human brain to forget how to function.

(If you'd like to find out how to join the Junior Science Academy, visit www.academyofscienceSTL.org. The Junior Academy has a year-long program to help kids get a head start in the sciences.)

Eleven-year-old Will Wolfe said he's interested in a career in either science or engineering. "I like to build things," 5th grader at Wilson School said.

The Junior Science kids also toured the Energy Research Laboratory. There, scientists were testing the inner workings of materials that might lead to a hydrogen-fueled car.

Hydrogen is considered to be a good candidate as an alternative fuel because it's one of the most plentiful elements on earth. Water contains two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen.

And dividing of water into its two elements doesn't cause pollution.

But, there are other problems. For one thing, hydrogen gas is extremely flamable. Also, it's hard to store enough to run a car for 300 miles between fillups, which is what most people want from car fuel.

Also, hydrogen fuel doesn't give rapid acceleration. There's no "zero to 60 in six seconds," the lab worker said.

But, the pressure to find alternatives to oil-based fuels is great and the potential market is huge.

Another stop on the tour was a lab that uses X-rays to study the tiny nano-particles.

Matt Wolfe said his interest in science started when he was very young. "I liked dinosaurs when I was little," he said.

Brother Will said he got interested in science "when I found out my school had a science lab."

Both of the kids plan to go to college, but Will hasn't decided yet on where. Matt said, "I'd like to go to Dartmouth or Princeton. Or if I'm real lucky, Oxford."