Should Nanotech Be Regulated?

Memorize writes "Josh Wolfe writes an article in Forbes arguing that it is too early to regulate nanotech. Wolfe is worried that the 'green gang' (his term for environmentalists) are going to regulate nanotech out of existence before the technology even works in the lab. It seems like much of the discussion of nanotech is hype, including the potential benefits, such as immortality and the potential dangers such as grey goo. However, nanotech does hold some promise of environmental benefits such as cheap solar power. Are the risks real, and if so, is it worth the risk?" From the article: "There are rumblings that regulations are needed. They say they want to guarantee the safety of the technology and instill confidence in the general public."

Nanotech Inspector

[MyLongNickName]

I wanted to be a nanotech inspector, but I failed the eye exam.

Yes.

[Seumas]

In America, everything should be regulated. What are you - some sort of godlesss pink commie?

Grey Goo?

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't know, anything that is two letters short of an alcohol isn't all bad in my book.

yes!

[bcrowell]

I also propose regulation of:

1. flying cars
2. artificial intelligences that pass the Turing test
3. cures for the common cold
4. concealed laser pistols
5. faster-than-light travel.

I think the need for #1, for example, should be obvious -- I'm amazed that nobody's been killed yet, considering the complete lack of traffic regulations. And re #5, according to special relativity, any faster-than-light drive also allows time travel, which has obvious potential for use by terrorists -- surprising they haven't used it yet, given the complete lack of government oversight.

Nah

[Neil Blender]

The industry is too small to need to be regulated.

Smoky the Nanobot sez

[Another MacHack]

http://sundown.greyledge.net/pages/images/Smoky_Th e_Nanobot.jpg [greyledge.net]

Re:Nanotech Inspector

[MyLongNickName]

The moderators' sense of humor must qualify as nanotech...

Re:Wide Societal Debate

[WidescreenFreak]

Or even worse ...

"I saw that Star Trek episode where two nanites had sex and reproduced like rabbits! They had to shoot the computer! And then they, like, started talkin' and stuff, and that dude had to apologize.. Well, shit, I ain't wanna apologize to some sex-maniac robots who want to take over my computer! No way, man! None of this nanotechnology for me! I don't wanna shoot my 'puter neither!

I saw it on TV, so it's gotta be true!"

Re:Regulation will only slow things down

[maxwell demon]

So we need regulations! Otherwise, it will happen like in AI, where some time it turned out that all the promises we were given never were fulfilled, and the actual achievements of AI are much less. Therefore heavy regulations are necessary, so when the promises can't be fulfilled, you can just blame the over-regulation instead of having to admit that you were just over-optimistic.

I'm Feeling Lucky

[KipCas]

What will be funny is when the "Grey Goo" ecophagy theory plays itsself out and the people at Google figure out a way to search the nanobots blanketing the earth and patent it. And yes, it will be called "Grey Goo-gle".

Save us now!

[null etc.]

We absolutely have to regulate how nanotechnology is used. Think what would happen if spyware and malware authors got ahold of a few nanobots!

Re:yes!

[isotope23]

Think of the damage to the cold-remedy industry!!!

Re:Green Gang

[hedge_death_shootout]

He should learn some history, the Green Gang was the bleh bleh bleh...

Yes, that will indeed have confused a lot of people. 'What's this got to do with pre-KMT Chinese nationalist political movements' I mused to myself as I read the article.

Actually, I'm lying - I didn't read it at all.

Re:Too late.

[EvilTwinSkippy]

Sulphiric Acid? You probably mean "Sulphuric Acid".

The reason they can use it is because its effects are immediate. It has this neat property of killing or disfiguring, on contact, anyone who doesn't handle it properly.

I don't know where you get off saying H2SO4 has not been thoroughly investigated. What do you want, a guy in a labcoat with an eyedropper blinding mice?

Re:What's new

[panaceaa]

Most of "Nanotechnology" is just hyped up stuff that used to be called "Chemistry" or "Molecular Biology".

Yes, and nanotech regulation used to be called micromanagement.

PHB's just love to make themselves look important :).

Re:Wide Societal Debate

[Jherek Carnelian]

If you want a better system, do something for your local elementary school, shake, stir, then wait twenty years and hope things turn out better.

Or, just spray the local elementary school with brain-enhancer nanobots and let them do what they're good at!

Re:So let's regulate it

[Anonymous Coward]

>This is just baseless fear of the unknown

Says the guy with Tubgirl as his homepage and a goatse link marked "free ipod" in his sig....