Debating the Debate

A couple of months ago, Nobel-prize winning chemist Richard Smalley and nanotechnology pioneer Eric Drexler squared off in the pages of Chemical & Engineering News to debate Drexler's theories on mechanochemistry. It's hard to say who won the debate, since the two parties seemed to be talking past each other, although CRN's analysis found more to agree with in Drexler's points than in Smalley's. Letters to the editor of C&E News have now been printed, and the tally of opinions there shows a clear advantage for Drexler's side. Take that for what it's worth.

Comments

[Mike Deering]

Despite not agreeing with all of his views on the future of nanotechnology, I am very disappointed to hear that Richard Smalley has died of cancer. It is too bad that one or more of the now in development nanotech based cures for cancer couldn't have been tried out on him. With everything in technology moving faster, the long drawn out procedures of the FDA is fast becoming an anachronism. He was a brilliant scientist, and his passing is a loss for the world. He did much to advance nanotechnology through his discoveries and the businesses he formed. He co-discovered the buckyball and other fullerenes, which he won a Nobel prize for.

[Mike Treder, CRN]

I agree with you, Mike, 100%.