The BRVGS AP Biology students of Madison County High School got some firsthand experience with nanotechnology on September 4th, when Dr. Cassandra Fraser, Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia, brought information and examples of nanotechnology to their classroom. The nanoparticles that Dr. Fraser and her team are working with have light-emitting properties that make for possible detection of certain cancers. In addition, the unusual "force-responsive" and "self-erasing" properties of the luminescent dyes used with the bio-compatible nanoparticles make them a unique new "renewable" medium for art. Dr. Fraser provided information on the chemical and physical properties of the particles, and then moved students into the lab for some hands-on demonstration. You can see more photos of Dr. Fraser's demonstration by clicking on "Nanotechnology in Madison."