It’s a small world after all.
 
On Saturday, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum will host Nanodays, an event to encourage children and other residents to learn about science, particularly nanoscience.
 
Physics assistant professor Juana Moreno said nanoscience is any type of science related to small items and the ability to manipulate them.
 
Moreno will attend the event, along with several other faculty members, to demonstrate nanoscience in everyday life.
 
“There will be a traditional game of I Spy, but with things related to nanoscience,” she said. “We’ll also have a baby diaper to demonstrate how it uses nanoscience to absorb huge amounts of water.”
 
In addition to hands-on activities and demonstrations, the event will also offer lectures and discussions.
 
According to a University Relations news release, physics professor Phillip Sprunger will present “Through the STM Looking-glass: Nanoland” at 2 p.m.
Throughout the day, Moreno will present a “Scanning Tunneling Microscope” – a device that measures the surface of objects at the atomic level.
 
“When reduced to the width of a human hair or smaller, ordinary materials often take on extraordinary properties,” it said.
 
Moreno said events to help children discover nanoscience are taking place throughout the country this week and have been going on for years.
 
“I have been doing this for a few years,” she said. “I would like to be able to share with more people this year and have more people come.”
 
Moreno said student and faculty volunteers will be on hand to teach museum visitors about nanoscience and explain the activities, which will be easy for anyone to understand.
 
“It’s made so kids can understand all of them,” she said. “These are very, very simple explanations.”
 
She said the hands-on activities will also make it easier for visitors to learn.
 
“You learn something better when you do it,” she said. “You remember it better than if you’re just given an explanation for it in a lecture.”
 
Moreno said it’s important for people to understand the basics of science, no matter what they do in life.
 
“It becomes more important every day for us to do things like this,” she said. “It’s not only for people with jobs in science. Everybody should understand the basics. That’s why we bring these events in for people to enjoy.”