No nonsence nanoscience
What a week when we’ve just witnessed the miracle of our very own John Key on Letterman , and a scientist tells us that immortality is only 20 years away.
The 61-year-old American, who’s been right before, says that at the rate our understanding of genes and computer technology is accelerating, new nanotechnologies will be capable of replacing worn out organs inside a couple of decades.
If that’s not tempting enough, nanotechnology is also being attributed with the ability to extend our mental capabilities to such an extent that humans will be capable of superhuman wonders like being able to write whole books in a matter of minutes.
But wait, at a recent liability symposium nanotechnology was highlighted as an emerging risk, despite the fact material and particles on a molecular or atomic scale are already in daily use in consumer products.
So nanotechnology, where small appears to be the new big, heralds in exciting new boons, but also signals some potential and as yet not-even-imagined pitfalls.
For example haven’t we been down this road before is with asbestos. This former wonder product has a fatal legacy and has delivered a hefty bill to the insurance industry because of mesothelia disease. This illness was unknown when the product was released for use.
So while some scientists may look forward to a world where humans have cyborg limbs thanks to nanobots, our suggestion is to tread wearily when claims of immortality are bandied about. Imagine going to hospitals to have a new liver dropped in like some car part….wait there could be something to this.
Tags: Asbestos, Cyborg, David Letterman, Immortality, John Key, Nanoscience, Technology
September 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
If we thought the whole GE debate was exhauting we best start resting up now. While greater minds than mine will no doubt ponder the many assoiciated issues one potential liability is this. The the ability to break matter down into the smallest possible particle means that these super super small items could travel to places they are not meant to.
Consider food and beverages where nano-technology is being hailed as the next big thing. Our gut acts as a permeable sheild only allowing particles of a certain size to pass through (that’s why young babies who have immature and therefore leaky guts can’t tolerate certain foods). Potentially this natural filter will be rendered ineffective in the face of these itty bitty bits. Of course more technology will be used to solve this e.g attach to larger molecules. Communicating risks will be mine field and imagine the food labelling dilemmas.