Curtis Shephard

Nanotechnology: Immortality or total annihilation? Technology

has evolved from id eals once seen as unbelievable to common everyd ay instruments.
Computers that used to occupy an entire room are now the size of notebooks. The
human race has always pushed for technological ad vances working at the most
efficient level, perhaps, the molecular level. The d evelopments and progress in
artificial intelligence and molecular technology have spawned a new form of
technology; Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology could give the human race eternal life,
or it could cause total annihilation. The id ea of nanotech was conceived by a
man named K. Eric Drexler (Stix 94), which he d efines as "Technology based on the
manipulation of ind ivid ual atoms and molecules to build structures to complex
atomic specifications (Drexler, "Engines" 288)." The technology which Drexler
speaks of will be und oubted ly small, in fact, nano- structures will only measure
100 nanometers, or a billionth of a meter (Stix 94). Being as small as they
are, nanostructures require fine particles that can only be seen with the STM, or
Scanning Tunneling Microscope (Dowie 4). Moreover the STM allows the scientists to
not only see things at the molecular level, but it can pick up and move atoms as
well (Port 128). Unfortunately the one d evice that is giving nanoscientists
something to work with is also one of the many obstacles restricting the
d evelopment of nanotech. The STM has been regard ed as too big to ever prod uce
nanotech structures (Port 128). Other scientists have stated that the
manipulation of atoms, which nanotech relies on, ignores atomic reality. Atoms
simply d on't fit together in ways which nanotech intend s to use them (Garfinkel
105). The problems plaguing the progress of nanotech has raised many questions
among the scientific community concerning it's valid ity. The moving of atoms, the
gathering of information, the restrictions of the STM, all restrict nanotech
progress. And until these questions are answered , nanotech is regard ed as silly
(Stix 98). But the nanotech optimists are still out there. They contend that the
progress mad e by a team at IBM who was able to write letters and d raw pictures
atom by atom actually began the birth of nanotech (Darling 49). These same people
answer the scientific questions by replying that a breakthrough is not need ed ,
rather the science gained must be applied (DuCharme 33). In fact, Drexler argues
that the machines exist, trend s are simply working on build ing better ones
("Unbound ing" 24). Drexler continues by stating that the machines he spoke about
in "Engines of Creation" published in 1986 should be d eveloped early in the 21st
century ("Unbound ing" 116). However many scientists still argue that because
nanotech has prod uced absolutely nothing physical, it should be regard ed as
science fiction (Garfinkel 111). Second ly, nano-d oubters rely on scientific fact
to cond emn nanotech. For example it is argued that we are very far away from ever
seeing nanotech d ue to the fact that when atoms get warm they have a tend ency to
bounce around . As a result the bouncing atoms collid e with other materials and
mess up the entire structure (David son A1). Taken in hand with the movement of
electron charges, many regard nanotech as impossible (Garfinkel 106). But this is
not the entirety of the obstacles confining nanotech d evelopment. One major set-
back is the fact that the nanostructures are too small to reflect light in a
visible way, making them practically invisible (Garfinkel 104).
Nevertheless, Nanotech engineers remain hopeful and argue that; "With
ad equate fund ing, researchers will soon be able to custom build simple molecules
that can store and process information and manipulate or fabricate other
molecules, includ ing more of themselves. This may occur before the turn of the
century."(Roland 30) There are other d evelopments also, that are pushing nanotech
in the right d irection for as Lipkin pointed out recent d evelopments have lead to
possibilities of computers thinking in 3-D (5). Which is a big step toward s the
processing of information that nanotech requires. Although there are still
unanswered questions from some of the scientific community, researchers believe
that they are moving forward and will one d ay be able to prod uce nanomachines.
One such machine is regard ed as a replicator. A replicator, as it's name
implies, will replicate; much like the way in which genes are able to replicate
themselves (Drexler, "Engines" 23). It is also believed that once a replicator
has mad e a copy of itself, it will also be able to arrange atoms to build entirely
new materials and structures (Dowie 5). Another perceived nanomachine is the
assembler. The assembler is a small machine that will take in raw materials,
follow a set of specific instructions, re-arrange the atoms, and result in an
altogether new prod uct (Darling 53). Hence, one could make d iamond s simply by
giving some assemblers a lump of coal. Drexler states that the assemblers will be
the most beneficial nanites for they will build structures atom by atom ("Engines"
12). Along with the assemblers comes its opposite, the d isassembler. The
d isassembler is very similar to the assemblers, except it works backward s. It is
believed that these nanites will allow scientists to analyze materials by breaking
them d own, atom by atom (Drexler, "Engines" 19). As a result of the enhanced
prod uction effects of assemblers Drexler believes that they will be able to shrink
computers and improve their operation, giving us nanocomputers. These machines
will be able to d o all things that current computers can d o, but at a much more
efficient level. Once these nanomachines are complete they will be able to grasp
molecules, bond them together, and eventually result in a larger, new structure
(Drexler, "Engines" 13). Through this and similar processes the possibilities of
nanotech are end less. It is believed that nanites could build robots, shrunken
versions of mills, rocket ships, microscopic submarines that patrol the
blood stream, and more of themselves (Stix 94). Hence, their is no limit to what
nanotech can d o, it could arrange circuits and build super-computers, or give
eternal life (Stix 97). Overall Drexler contend s; "Ad vances in the technologies
of med icine, space, computation, and prod uction-and warfare all d epend on our
ability to arrange atoms. With assemblers, we will be able to remake our world ,
or d estroy it" ("Engines" 14). In a more specific spectrum, are the impacts
nanotechnology could have on the area of prod uction. Nanotechnology could greatly
increase our means of prod uction. Nanites have the ability to convert bulks of
raw materials into manufactured good s by arranging atoms (DuCharme 58). As a
result of this increased efficiency, DuCharme believes that this will become the
norm in prod ucing good s, that this whole filed will now be d one at the molecular
level (34). Thus, nanotech could eliminate the need for prod uction cond itions
that are harmful or d ifficult to maintain (Roland 31). Moreover, the impact that
nanotech will have on prod uction could lead to a never before seen abund ance of
good s. Costs and labor will all be significantly cheaper. Everyone would be able
to use nanotech as a tool for increased efficiency in the area of prod uction
(DuCharme 60). The overall effects of nanotech on prod ucing materials were best
summed up by Dowie, "This new revolution won't require crushing, boiling, melting,
etc. Good s would now be built from the atom up by nanomachines" (4).
Nanotech will also be able to benefit us in other ways. One great ad vantage
to nanotech will be the improvements it will lend in the areas of med icine. With
the prod uction of microscopic submarines, this branch of nanotech could be the
most appealing. These nanites would be able to patrol the blood stream sensing
friend ly chemicals and converting bad ones into harmless waste (Darling 7). But
nanites will be able to d o more than this, this brand of nanites could also repair
d amaged DNA and hunt cancer (Port 128). Thus, nanites would be able to cure many
illnesses and repair DNA. Moreover, nanites could remove the need to keep animals
for human use, they could simply prod uce the food insid e your bod y (Darling 59).
As a result of nanites floating through your bod y and attacking harmful substances
such as cholesterol, people could live ind efinitely � perhaps a millennia (David son
A1). This id ea opens up another d oor in the field of nanotech research, d ealing
with the potential for immortality. But asid e from provid ing eternal life through
fixing DNA and curing illnesses, nanotech could be used with cryogenics in
provid ing never-end ing life. The current problem with cryogenics is after a
person is frozen the cells in their bod y expand and burst. Nanotech could solve
for this problem for they could find and replace the broken cells (DuCharme 152).
Also, however, nanites would n't even require the entire frozen bod y. They could
simply replicate the DNA in a frozen head and then prod uce a whole new person
(DuCharme 155). However, this poses a potential problem, that being
overpopulation, and the environment. DuCharme contend s that this should not be a
concern for a high stand ard of living will keep the population from growing (61).
However, if the population were to increase nanotech will have prod uced the energy
to allow us to live in currently uninhabitable areas of the earth (DuCharme 63).
Nanites will allow people to not only live on earth, but on the sea, und er the
sea, und erground , and in space d ue to increased flight capabilities
(DuCharme 64). Hence, the human race will have a near infinite space for living.
Also, nanites would red uce the toxins manufactured from cars by prod ucing cheap
electric cars, but also use d isassemblers to clean up waste d umps (DuCharme 68).
The benefits of nanotech are countless, it could be used to d o anything from
spying to mowing the lawn (David son A1). However, with the good comes the bad .
Nanotech could also bring some d istinct d isad vantages. One scenario which
illustrates the d anger of nanotech is referred to as the gray goo problem. Gray
Goo is referred to as when billions of nanites band together and eat everything
they come into contact with (David son A1). However, David son only gets the tip of
the iceberg when it comes to the d ead liness of gray goo. Roland better
illustrates this hazard s threat; "Nanotechnology could spawn a new form of life
that would overwhelm all other life on earth, replacing it with a swarm of
nanomachines. This is sometimes called the 'gray goo' scenario. It could take
the form of a new d isease organism, which might wipe out whole species, includ ing
Homo Sapiens"(32). Simply put the nanites would replicate to quickly and d estroy
everything includ ing the human race (Stix 95). Moreover, the rapid replication
rate that nanotech is capable of could allow it to out-prod uce real organisms and
turn the biosphere to d ust (Drexler, "Engines" 172). However, d eath is only one
of the d angers of gray goo. If controlled by the wrong people, nanites could be
used to alter or d estroy those persons enemies (Roland 32). But gray goo is only
of one of the many potential harms of nanotech. If so d esired , nanotech could
be used as a d ead ly weapon. Although microscopic robots d on't sound like a very
effective weapon, Drexler states that they are more potent than Nuclear weapons,
and much easier to obtain ("Engines" 174). But asid e from being used as a weapon,
nanites would be able to prod uce weapons at a quick and inexpensive rate. In
fact, with the ability to separate isotopes and atoms one would be able to extract
fissionable Uranium 235 or Plutonium 239. With these elements, a person has the
key ingred ients for a nuclear bomb (Roland 34). As a result of the lethality of
nano-weapons the first to d evelop nanotech could use it to d estroy his rivals.
New method s for d omination will exist that is greater than Nukes and more
d angerous (Roland 33). This along with simple errors, such as receiving the wrong
instructions points toward nanotech d oing more harm than good (Darling 56).
Moreover, the threats from nanotech could be a potential cause of extinction
(Drexler, "Engines" 174). Drexler continues by saying that unless precautions are
taken nano could lead to complete annihilation ("Engines" 23). However, if
nanotech d oes not lead to extinction, it could be used to increase the power of
states and ind ivid uals. Bacon believes that only the very most elite ind ivid uals
will receive benefits from nanotech. Beyond that however, it is perceived that
ad vanced tech extend s the possibilities of torture used by a state (Drexler,
"Engines" 176). However, states will become more powerful in other ways. With the
increase means of prod uction, nanotech could remove the need for any if not all
people (Drexler, "Engines" 176). This opens new d oors for totalitarian states.
They would no longer require keeping anyone alive, ind ivid uals would not be
enslaved , rather they would be killed (Drexler, "Engines" 176). It is perceived
that all the benefits would remove all interd epend ence, and d estroy the quality of
life itself (Roland 34). In the end , nanotech could give a lifestyle never
before imagined . On the other hand , it could d estroy entire species. The effects
and potentials of nanotech are best summed up by it's inventor, Drexler,
"Nanotechnology and artificial intelligence could bring the ultimate tools of
d estruction, but they are not inherently d estructive. With care, we can use them
to build the ultimate tools of peace" ("Engines" 190). The question of how
beneficial nanotech will prove to be, can only be answered by time. Time will
tell whether d evelopments and progress in artificial intelligence and molecular
technology will eventually prod uce true nanotechnology. And , if prod uced , whether
this branch of science will give us immortality or total annihilation.