Nanotechnology

[Steezie]

What is your view on nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is the development and use of microscopic robots for a multitude of applications. Nanobots can be used to do everything from build buildings to medicine and for thousands of different uses.

Some people however subscribe to the "grey goo theory". The grey goo theory is a theory that gives a worst case scenario of a nanobot accident. Self-replicating nanobots would be released into the atmosphere and litterally "eat" everything on the planet, transforming it all into a grey goo.

 

[pgp_protector]

Nanotech is not just microscopic robot.

It's any technology on the 100 nanometers or less.

And I love the tech

 

[Oidhche]

Some people however subscribe to the "grey goo theory". The grey goo theory is a theory that gives a worst case scenario of a nanobot accident. Self-replicating nanobots would be released into the atmosphere and litterally "eat" everything on the planet, transforming it all into a grey goo.

I think that's highly unlikely. Natural self-replicating machines (read: bacteria) have existed for billions of years and still haven't transformed the planet into a grey goo. Now, granted, if we ever make nanobots, they'll probably much different than bacteria, but the same external factors that limit the population of bacteria would probably apply. They'd still need specific types of "food", could function only in specific environments and so on. So I think that we're probably safe from a catastrophe on that scale. However, I can also think of plenty of terrible applications of nanobots and possible accidents. We need to be very cautious when dealing with stuff we're only beginning to understand and results of which we can't predict.

 

[arunma]

What is your view on nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is the development and use of microscopic robots for a multitude of applications. Nanobots can be used to do everything from build buildings to medicine and for thousands of different uses.

Some people however subscribe to the "grey goo theory". The grey goo theory is a theory that gives a worst case scenario of a nanobot accident. Self-replicating nanobots would be released into the atmosphere and litterally "eat" everything on the planet, transforming it all into a grey goo.

That scenario is virtually impossible, and is relegated specifically to the realm of science fiction. Many modern forms of nanotechnology actually use biological agents. For example, I recently read that it is possible to genetically program viruses to construct nanowires.

 

[WingsOfTheNeophyte]

What is your view on nanotechnology?

Well, this is what I will be studying at uni in a few months (physics with nanotechnology), so my view is completely positive

I thinks it amazing, it will benefit, every other existing technology

Some people however subscribe to the "grey goo theory".

And some people subscribe to geocentricism.


Overall, progress is good, and nanotechnology will open many doors for us to progress through

 

[arunma]

Well, this is what I will be studying at uni in a few months (physics with nanotechnology), so my view is completely positive

I thinks it amazing, it will benefit, every other existing technology

So, you're going into physics? That's great! I actually just completed my degree in physics this week. Physics is, in my opinion, one of the most important academic subjects that anyone can study, so I'm pleased to hear that you've decided to make physics the focus of your university studies.

 

[WingsOfTheNeophyte]

So, you're going into physics? That's great! I actually just completed my degree in physics this week. Physics is, in my opinion, one of the most important academic subjects that anyone can study, so I'm pleased to hear that you've decided to make physics the focus of your university studies.

Thanks,

Yes physics is definitely the most important, of all subjects

Good to see we can agree on something

 

[redmartian89]

I absolutely love how nanotechnology can be used for basically any purpose, like medicine or building or food. Ray Kurzweil wrote a bit about the prospects of nanotech, both positive and negative. He mentioned nanobots in the veins fighting disease, and even fighting the aging process by cleaning up cells and destroying damaging tissue, but also as war tools. There is a video on google on a nano-replicator that could build you anything you wanted, like salmon or a laptop. But also think of the effects of the likes of terrorists using nanobots to destroy healthy cells or contaminate water or air. The thing we have to make sure of with this (or any) technology is that it is used for positive uses that benefit all humans.

 

[redmartian89]

nanofactory video