The Dangers of Nanotech

Krees writes "Small Times talked with the Foresight Institute's Christine Peterson, Ralph Merkle of Zyvex, and Ray McLaughlin of Carbon Nanotechnologies about the potential of nanotechnology, which has benefited greatly from open source research methods, and nanotech weapons in particular falling into the wrong hands. Recent recognition of potential abuses will likely lead to incrased secrecy in nanotech research." This topic comes up every so often - what happens when nanotech falls into the wrong hands? I think that's a "when", not an "if", as that happens with almost everything.

Nanobots?

[fifthchild]

But what do we do if they hijack the ship and ressurect the crew? They'll never believe me when I try to tell them that they all died millions of years ago when Rimmer caused a leak in the reactor...

Oh, never mind.

Where's Wesley Crusher?

[Anonymous Coward]

He saved the Enterprise from the nanites [startrek.com], if we can just get him to talk to these nanobots before they hurt us, I'm sure everything will be alright....

The Dangers of Fire

[none2222]

"CaveMan Times talked with the Foresight Institute's OOG about the potential of fire, which has benefited greatly from open source research methods, and fire weapons in particular falling into the wrong hands. Recent recognition of potential abuses will likely lead to incrased secrecy in fire research."

Re:Nanotech

[Spy Hunter]

Yeah, men will probably walk on the Moon before we build such things!

That's what I think. A long time before.

Re:Danger can be controlled better than it is now

[heptapod]

Nano technology will be as simple as writing a computer virus,

Oh great, I can see it now. Someone gets a cold and suddenly starts sprouting penises everywhere on their body followed by a nasty rash that spells out "n@n0-d00d 0wnz j00!!!!!!"

Studying conciousness?

[Col. Panic]

I was sitting with John Searle, a Berkeley philosopher who studies consciousness.

Well, isn't that what all Berkeley students historically study (albeit from a somewhat detached perspective)?

Don't I have enough to worry about?

[toupsie]

Oh my God! My nerves are fraying! Too much terror input!

Yesterday, California Gov. Davis said bridges on the entire West Coast were going to blow up. The week before that, Anthrax was everywhere making already testy US Postal Employees, with the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, a little more edgy in mass wearing disguises. I am not even going to start with jumbo jets plowing into buildings 3/4 miles south of my apartment a month ago.

Now, thanks to Slashdot, I am freaking out about things I can't see without an electron microscope (yea like I got those laying around like cue-cats) crawling around my body screwing up my DNA! With the way the technology industry is dominated and my luck, I could end up ingesting a Microsoft Nanabot NT for the Intestines and end up with the Blue Skin of Death.

Can't we have more fun stories about people that cover their cases in PETA approved faux fur, obviously photoshopped, fake Apple combination PDA/MP3/GPS prototypes or someone running a beowulf cluster of Aibos powered by the disco beat of the Bee Gees [aibosite.com]. I got enough forwarded e-mail in my mailbox to freak me out for quite a while. On a positive note, at least no malls blew up on Halloween like that woman from Mississippi/Oregon/Florida/Arizona with the Saudi/Iranian/Iraqi/Palestinians/Egyptian/Sudanese boyfriend (that left abruptly) told her sister/mother/hair stylist/local sheriff would happen.

Re:Where would the energy come from?

[LegendLength]

This is why the energy source for nano technology should be RESTRICTED to say

solar energy...

Yeh that way only half the earth can be destroyed at any one time.

Re:Argh

[Bingo Foo]

What if you fill up the flight with 50 % idiots....

Then it will also be the smartest flight in history.

Bingo Foo