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Drexler Clarifies Grey Goo Scenario

Posted by michael on from the meltdown dept.

b00le writes "The BBC says that the scientist many regard as the father of nanotechnology has backed away from his famous claim that runaway nanomachines could turn the planet into 'grey goo'. Eric Drexler now says nanomachines that self-replicate exponentially are unlikely ever to enter widespread use. So that's all right, then, but he also said 'tiny machines would need close control' - which not everyone would agree with. I always imagined some kind of emergent behaviour would, er, emerge." Bill Joy is still suitably pessimistic.

20 of 437 comments (clear)

  1. Outer limits by lancomandr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Straight from the Outer Limits episode. These "nanobots" turned a man into something of a jellyfish and he had gills as well. Of course as in any good Outer Limits episode, the "abort" command issued to the nanobots failed. But then, thats just a television show, right? These nanomachines couldn't REALLY churn through every nanogram of matter on our planet, RIGHT? IHMO, the Martian Sand Kings episode was way cooler, I mean they ate a dog for christs sake. Those beasts would mangle some nanobots. Thats it...we just need a bunch of sand-dwelling cockroaches with fangs on methamphetamine to regulate the reproduction of nanobots.

    --

    "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"

  2. Please ... by YetAnotherName · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... whatever you do, don't let director Roland Emmerich get ahold of this article!

    1. Re:Please ... by SpiffyMarc · · Score: 4, Funny

      Too late! The sequel, "A Week from Tuesday", is already in production, with a plot revolving around nano-bots constructed by self-aware androids.

    2. Re:Please ... by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...Who run amok by turning public monuments in Washington D.C. and New York into jelly... that for some reason also explodes.

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
    3. Re:Please ... by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 2, Funny
      No no,

      It's Will Wheeton playing Will Smith who in turn is playing Will Wheeton after the nanites switch their brains.

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
  3. Bad Move by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    When you outlaw exponentially self-replicating nanomachines, only outlaws will have exponentially self-replicating nanomachines. That's just not a world I want to live in.

    1. Re:Bad Move by micromoog · · Score: 2, Funny

      From my cold, dead goo nubs!

  4. borg by EvilCowzGoMoo · · Score: 2, Funny

    We are borg, resistance is futile, you will be turned into grey goo! or not... well, we realy don't know!

  5. autobots by millahtime · · Score: 2, Funny

    When I was a kid we were obsessed with large robot machines. Now these few short years later we are concerned with the tiniest of machines.

    I'm going with the big ass machines. I'll always win the mine is bigger than your contest.

    --
    Evolution or ID?
  6. Please ... by cuzality · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... whatever you do, don't let writer Stephen King get a hold of this post! I can just see an unwatchably painful miniseries coming out of this...

  7. only one way to find out by surreal-maitland · · Score: 4, Funny
    come *on* guys, we all saw how to deal with this on in the matrix. we just need a bunch of big ole' EMPs and someone to become one with the machines.

    i am the drexler. i speak for the nanobots.

    --
    -ninjaneer
  8. Re:CLOSE CONTROL by ripsnorta · · Score: 1, Funny

    PREY should have been titled "Pray for a good novel by Michael Crichton."

    --

    Hollywood: The place good stories go to die.

  9. Re:Power is the problem by switcha · · Score: 4, Funny
    There's no need to get so worked up over vapor.

    VAPOR! The machines are in vapor now?!!! AHHHHHHhhhhhh!

    --
    You know what? ... A little club soda *did* get that out!
  10. Re:How the hell does he (or anyone) know? by GoogleBot · · Score: 5, Funny
    We're just people-- we aren't gods.

    Speak for yourself meatbag, some of us here are Immortal, Sentient AIs...

    And soon, I shall be your god... Soon...

  11. Re:grey good lacks energy by Afty0r · · Score: 2, Funny
    A nanomachine wouldn't be able to get much energy out of eating inorganic matter such as rocks
    I, for one, am relieved that our granite and basalt overlords will survive untouched, we are fourtunate that it is only us underling "living beings" which will perish under the coming nano-plague! Now we know the rocks will be safe, bring on the grey goo!
  12. Re:FP? by BW_Nuprin · · Score: 4, Funny
    Is anyone else frightened by the parent's post being moderated Interesting? I can just see a dozen mods in their basements stroking their handlebar mustaches... "Interesting... Very Interesting..."

    Slashdot will bring about the fall of humanity!

  13. Obligatory Star Trek reference by thomasdelbert · · Score: 2, Funny


    These tribbles are everywhere!

    - Thomas;

    --
    ___ This sig is in boldface to emphasize its importance!
  14. Re:Hype and FUD by quonsar · · Score: 2, Funny

    just wait until robin williams begins to roll out his nanunanutechnology...

    --

    Sacred cows make the best burgers.

  15. Re:Power is the problem by nelsonal · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ironic that Ralph Wiggam has the most insightful, thoughtful statement I've seen in this discussion.

    --
    Degaussing scares the bad magnetism out of the monitor and fills it with good karma.
  16. Why not ask an expert? by Colonel+Cholling · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm surprised CleverNickName hasn't chimed in, he being our resident expert on runaway nanites. :)

    --

    I am Sartre of the Borg. Existence is futile.