On Friday, October 3, the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) went retro for the RETROspective Rewind Way Late Play Date at the Adventure Science Center. VINSE hosted three interactive demonstrations that showcased pivotal nanoscience discoveries and innovations spanning the past 70 years—tailored for a curious 21+ audience.
Participants traveled through decades of nanoscale innovation:
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1950s – The Dawn of Photolithography: Guests recreated the semiconductor photolithography process—using a “chip” made of graham crackers, frosting, and sprinkles—to illustrate how early techniques laid the foundation for modern microelectronics.
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1960s – Cleanroom Revolution: Visitors explored the evolution of cleanrooms, learned how today’s controlled environments enable advanced nanoscience research, and suited up in authentic cleanroom garments—proving that bunny suits never go out of style.
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2000s – Graphene Discovery: Stepping into the new millennium, guests produced single-atom-thick graphene using the same scotch-tape method pioneered by Nobel Prize–winning researchers. They investigated how electricity interacts with this remarkable material and learned about innovations that now allow graphene to be produced on larger scales for next-generation technologies.
VINSE extends special thanks to our volunteers—cleanroom staff Dr. Christina McGahan and Megan Dernberger, NanoGuide Courtney Ragle, and Tech Crew member Rafael Rodas Aguilar—for engaging the community with the nanoscale breakthroughs that continue to shape our world today.