Nanotechnology
Imagine a world where anyone could create anything at the push of a button. A world where no one dies of disease, where even a small cut can be repaired. Somewhere where every problem Earth has today is gone.
With nanotechnology, this utopia actually seems within reach. With nanoparticles in the human body, literally everything ranging from lacerations, cancer, HIV, and even the common cold can be treated and eliminated. Sickness will be a thing of the past. Advanced energy collection will solve one of the greatest problems in recent history, how to make energy without damaging the environment. Combined with molecular manufacturing, the possiblities of the human race from then on are limitless. Yet with this new technology, some issues come up about the use of nanotechnology in the human body, and in general.
The Future of Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology Concerns
Nanomedicine
Since nanomedicine involves the insertion of
nanoparticles into a human body to
regulate and repair, many question the practice.
They argue that having nano-size robots inside
them is morally wrong, much like cloning.
Although nanomedicine is a recognized field,
it is still mostly in R&D, so much of it is still
unknown, and many question as to weather or
not it is safe. There are many ideas that
scientists have put foward that may harm the
human body:
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Toxicity is an unknown factor, "Many fine particles generally considered “nuisance dusts” are likely to acquire unique surface properties when engineered to nanosize and may exhibit toxic biological effects"(Citation 1).
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Implantion of nanoparticles in a human body can lead to possible health effects
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Direct human exposure to medical applications or ambient air pollution are also major concerns
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Inhaled nanoparticles can "evade phagocytosis, cross cell membranes, and redistribute to other sites of the body, causing systemic health effects"(Citation 2).
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Since they are robots, people worry what will happen if they are go faulty, or break away from their programming.
Molecular Manufactruing
If one was to make a molecular assembler,
then said person will have unlimited potential
for production. If that person was a threat to
global security, or had plans for terrorism and
such, then the world could be in turmoil as they
simply can't keep up conventional production
with a molecular assembler (Citation 3). Several
other issues can rise with MM tech, such as:
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Nano-sized robots can invade personal privacy, and also be used for international espionage
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Some countries may seek to develop nanoparticles that alter other molecules, creating a new era of biological warfare.
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Changing the way the world produces all goods will have a dramatic effect on global economy
Doomsday Theories
Many have hypothesized what is to happen when nanotechnology, and mostly MM tech come of age. As countries begin to adopt molecular assemblies instead of conventional factories, as well as enhanced military technology, it may well lead to another global conflict, or at least make a global conflict much more destructive than all before. The term "Grey goo" is a hypothetical end-of-the-world scenario in which intelligent self-replicating robots annihilate the human race (Citation 4). Many critics of nanotechnology say that this is a possibility, and the risks are not worth the effort to advance nanotechnology.
