The Federal Government has been pandering to the interests of massive corporations for years. Here's in example of what the most recent extension to the Copyright laws have done: The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, which adds 20 years to both terms of protection, giving individual authors protection for life plus 70 years and corporate authors protection for 95 years. As an attempt to illustrate how ridiculous this actually is, here is a simple example: The song "Happy Birthday" was composed is 1893 by sisters Mildred J. Hill and Patty Smith Hill. The exact time of their deaths is unknown, but it IS known that in 1935 they performed the song for Rockline WNEW NY 3-88. Had they been tragically killed leaving the station, Happy Birthday would still not be in the public domain until 2005. I did some research, and I included this information in letters I sent to my congressman and senators. I urge you all to do the same.
Considering that some of the best machines are proteins whose shapes change under different conditions (such as the proteins performing active transport across cell membranes or the enzymes which assist in the metabolization of glucose), it's only reasonable to assume that given enough technological proficiency, humans will begin to manufacture nanotechnology at this level of sophistication. Considering its advantages, why shouldn't "nanobots" work much like arrays of smaller more specialized machines (i.e., synthetic organelles) contained within a capsule or membrane? (i.e., a synthetic cell)
The fact of the matter is that we, as a society, are evolving. Technology advances at an incredible rate, and we as a species are forced to deal with it - and after a period of confusion, we do. This is hardly the first time some new advance has created a new paradigm in world view. When the wheel was invented, was it considered a possible abomination with massive abuse potential, or was it used as a catalyst for growth? During the initial stages of the computer explosion, did people fear and fret over the possibility that some insane mad scientist could (brace yourself here) do harm? The fact of the matter is that any harm done has been FAR outweighed by the overall good achieved bu any given technological leap forward. Genetics is no different - despite its broad potential for good AND harm. To think otherwise is to give into a paranoia bestowed more by science fiction than by logic and observation.
Your facts are fine, but I was being sarcastic... I'm well aware of this myself.:D However, the speed of sound varies by the density of the medium through which it travels. In this instance, it is inappropriate to use such a "constant" as a comparision. But thank you anyway.
Actually, the good folks at PHENIX computing (PHENIX is the "big" detector at RHIC, web addy at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov) are thinking about making a "RHIC@home" type screen saver, a la SETI, where participating geeks can analyze collision data on their spare time. The limiting factor being, of course, would we have interested participants?
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I guess I have to add the word "Luddite" to my "Oh, please!" filter.
The Federal Government has been pandering to the interests of massive corporations for years. Here's in example of what the most recent extension to the Copyright laws have done: The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, which adds 20 years to both terms of protection, giving individual authors protection for life plus 70 years and corporate authors protection for 95 years. As an attempt to illustrate how ridiculous this actually is, here is a simple example: The song "Happy Birthday" was composed is 1893 by sisters Mildred J. Hill and Patty Smith Hill. The exact time of their deaths is unknown, but it IS known that in 1935 they performed the song for Rockline WNEW NY 3-88. Had they been tragically killed leaving the station, Happy Birthday would still not be in the public domain until 2005. I did some research, and I included this information in letters I sent to my congressman and senators. I urge you all to do the same.
Considering that some of the best machines are proteins whose shapes change under different conditions (such as the proteins performing active transport across cell membranes or the enzymes which assist in the metabolization of glucose), it's only reasonable to assume that given enough technological proficiency, humans will begin to manufacture nanotechnology at this level of sophistication. Considering its advantages, why shouldn't "nanobots" work much like arrays of smaller more specialized machines (i.e., synthetic organelles) contained within a capsule or membrane? (i.e., a synthetic cell)
The fact of the matter is that we, as a society, are evolving. Technology advances at an incredible rate, and we as a species are forced to deal with it - and after a period of confusion, we do. This is hardly the first time some new advance has created a new paradigm in world view. When the wheel was invented, was it considered a possible abomination with massive abuse potential, or was it used as a catalyst for growth? During the initial stages of the computer explosion, did people fear and fret over the possibility that some insane mad scientist could (brace yourself here) do harm? The fact of the matter is that any harm done has been FAR outweighed by the overall good achieved bu any given technological leap forward. Genetics is no different - despite its broad potential for good AND harm. To think otherwise is to give into a paranoia bestowed more by science fiction than by logic and observation.
Your facts are fine, but I was being sarcastic... I'm well aware of this myself. :D However, the speed of sound varies by the density of the medium through which it travels. In this instance, it is inappropriate to use such a "constant" as a comparision. But thank you anyway.
The article refers to "supersonic" speeds, but in the pseudo-vacuum accretion disk of a black hole, what exactly is the speed of sound?
Actually, the good folks at PHENIX computing (PHENIX is the "big" detector at RHIC, web addy at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov) are thinking about making a "RHIC@home" type screen saver, a la SETI, where participating geeks can analyze collision data on their spare time. The limiting factor being, of course, would we have interested participants?