Nano could lead to new WMDs
Does that sound like one of CRN's warnings? Not this time. It's Charles Choi writing for UPI, interviewing scientists from the University of Mexico and the University of California.
The scary thing is that they aren't focusing on advanced nanotechnology -- destructive new devices produced in mass quantity with molecular manufacturing -- because they don't have to. They make a convincing point just talking about improved (is that the right word?) chemical and biological weapons.
Cutting edge technologies are nearly always driven by development of military applications. Nanotechnology is not likely to be an exception.
But the perils of a new arms buildup must not be put aside. Factors introduced by molecular manufacturing -- such as rapid innovation and prototyping, low-cost in-field mass production, automated weapons guided by integrated supercomputers, and decreased economic interpendence between nations -- will make the next arms race inherently unstable.
Already we're hearing sabers rattle and drums beat with the proposed weaponization of space. From there, it's a short step to military use of molecular machine systems with exponential manufacturing potential -- and at that point we're right on the edge of a very steep cliff.
Mike Treder
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