More Research Called For

The National Academy of Sciences has released its long-awaited report on molecular manufacturing, in "A Matter of Size: Triennial Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative." (Hat tip: KurzweilAI.net)

As the published report indicates, the committee chose to investigate "the feasibility of manufacturing systems capable of building, with molecular precision, complex systems that consist of multiple components."

This report, prepared in response to a congressional request, represents the first open, high-level, science-based evaluation of the concept of molecular manufacturing. Not surprisingly, this first evaluation led to the first recommendation that research be supported. For a decade or more, researchers eager to pursue this work have faced a closed door. That door now seems to be opening.

That's from Dr. K. Eric Drexler, who adds:

To advance research from theoretical models to concrete accomplishments, the committee calls for "defining and focusing on basic experimental steps that are critical to advancing long-term goals" and for funding "experimental demonstrations that link to abstract models and guide long-term vision."

Tihamer Toth-Fejel of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems told us:

The recent National Nanotechnology Initiative review pointed out, quite correctly, that it is very difficult to analyze Drexler's vision of quickly building atomically precise, complex, large-scale industrial objects such as computers or spacecraft at very low cost. But the review committee accepted that Drexler's technical arguments make use of accepted scientific knowledge, and they therefore called for the following:

• Delineating desirable research directions not already being pursued by the biochemistry community;
• Defining and focusing on some basic experimental steps that are critical to advancing long-term goals; and
• Outlining some "proof-of-principle" studies that, if successful, would provide knowledge or engineering demonstrations of key principles or components with immediate value.

CRN is encouraged to see the National Materials Advisory Board calling for expanded technical investigation of nanotechnology's manufacturing potential. We agree with this and also strongly urge more research into the profound implications, including marvelous benefits and terrible risks, of molecular manufacturing -- exponential atom-by-atom construction of advanced products.

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Comments

[Sam Melangie]

Looks like we are one large step towards MNT.

http://www.physorg.com/news84724251.html