Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Don't Stymie Nanotech

Posted by Hemos on from the let-science-be-free dept.

Anonymous Coward writes "A new paper released by the Pacific Research Institute says that nanotechnology holds benefits for society if not blocked by misguided regulation or outright bans. Already, some prominent individuals (like Bill Joy) have questioned the rationale of continuing nanotech research - PRI's paper explains that nanotech has more benefits than drawbacks, and that bans and heavy regulation are not in society's best interests"

5 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. PRI -- a word of caution by MacAndrew · · Score: 5, Informative

    PRI is a fairly libertarian group. Their position papers whould be read with an eye towards their agenda; I'd be curious what might be influencing their analysis. These think tanks should have to pick names that say something about themselves -- if something salls itself the "Justice League" or "PeaceLoveHarmony Council" it tells you nothing about their actually being a front for the veal industry. Truth in advertising?

    Disclosure: My half-sister worked for them ... and hasn't been quite the same since leaving. We haven't spoken for several years. :(

  2. Drexler said it all before by SiliconEntity · · Score: 5, Informative

    In his very first book, Engines of Creation, available online, Eric Drexler laid out the possible consequences of attempts to suppress nanotech research. See chapter 12 especially.

    He describes an ambitious program which will allow nanotech to be developed safely, via active shields to protect the environment and sealed assembler labs to allow safe experimentation.

    Of course Drexler was far, far ahead of his time, but his analysis should be a starting point for any consideration of the prospects for nanotech development.

  3. Competition for nanotech by T.+Will+S.+Idea · · Score: 4, Informative
    Craig Venter and Nobel prize winner Hamilton Smith (the guys who brought you the human genome a decade earlier than expected) are teaming up again to create a biologically based nanomachine. They plan to strip the extraneous genes out of the already tiny Mycoplasma genitalium, creating a platform to which they can add back genes of interest.

    This technology is much closer to fruition than nanotech. In fact, it is practically around the corner.

    --
    If electricity is produced by electrons is morality produced by morons?
  4. Re:It has more benefits than drawbacks... by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you're going to get a (3, Insightful) for this post, then you really ought to back up the above with a good solid argument.

    Didn't realize I needed one. It seems to me that the drawbacks to Drexler's ideas are blindingly obvious. But, if you need to hear them, try reading this. What you're looking for, stated incredibly briefly, is near the bottom.

    --

    I write in my journal
  5. "Dialog on Dangers" paper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    A Dialog on Dangers, by K. Eric Drexle