Nanotechnology Essay Research Paper Curtis Shephard Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology Essay, Research Paper

Curtis Shephard

Nanotechnology: Immortality or entire obliteration?

Technology has evolved from ideals one time seen as incredible to common mundane instruments.

Computers that used to busy an full room are now the size of notebooks. The human race has ever

pushed for technological progresss working at the most efficient degree, possibly, the molecular degree. The

developments and advancement in unreal intelligence and molecular engineering have spawned a new signifier

of engineering ; Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology could give the human race ageless life, or it could do

entire obliteration.

The thought of nanotech was conceived by a adult male named K. Eric Drexler ( Stix 94 ) , which he defines

as & # 8220 ; Technology based on the use of single atoms and molecules to construct constructions to

complex atomic specifications ( Drexler, & # 8220 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 288 ) . & # 8221 ; The engineering which Drexler speaks of will be

doubtless little, in fact, nano- constructions will merely mensurate 100 nanometres, or a billionth of a metre

( Stix 94 ) .

Bing every bit little as they are, nanostructures require all right atoms that can merely be seen with the

STM, or Scaning Burrowing Microscope ( Dowie 4 ) . Furthermore the STM allows the scientists to non merely

see things at the molecular degree, but it can pick up and travel atoms every bit good ( Port 128 ) . Unfortunately the

one device that is giving nanoscientists something to work with is besides one of the many obstructions

curtailing the development of nanotech. The STM has been regarded as excessively large to of all time bring forth nanotech

constructions ( Port 128 ) . Other scientists have stated that the use of atoms, which nanotech relies

on, ignores atomic world. Atoms merely wear & # 8217 ; t suit together in ways which nanotech intends to utilize them

( Garfinkel 105 ) . The jobs blighting the advancement of nanotech has raised many inquiries among the

scientific community refering it & # 8217 ; s cogency. The moving of atoms, the assemblage of information, the

limitations of the STM, all restrict nanotech advancement. And until these inquiries are answered, nanotech

is regarded as silly ( Stix 98 ) .

But the nanotech optimists are still out at that place. They contend that the advancement made by a squad at

IBM who was able to compose letters and draw images atom by atom really began the birth of nanotech

( Darling 49 ) . These same people answer the scientific inquiries by answering that a discovery is non

needed, instead the scientific discipline gained must be applied ( DuCharme 33 ) . In fact, Drexler argues that the

machines exist, tendencies are merely working on constructing better 1s ( & # 8221 ; Unbounding & # 8221 ; 24 ) . Drexler continues

by saying that the machines he spoke about in & # 8220 ; Engines of Creation & # 8221 ; published in 1986 should be

developed early in the twenty-first century ( & # 8221 ; Unbounding & # 8221 ; 116 ) .

However many scientists still argue that because nanotech has produced perfectly nil

physical, it should be regarded as scientific discipline fiction ( Garfinkel 111 ) . Second, nano-doubters rely on

scientific fact to reprobate nanotech. For illustration it is argued that we are really far off from of all time seeing

nanotech due to the fact that when atoms get warm they have a inclination to resile about. As a consequence

the bounce atoms collide with other stuffs and muss up the full construction ( Davidson A1 ) . Taken in

manus with the motion of negatron charges, many regard nanotech as impossible ( Garfinkel 106 ) . But

this is non the entireness of the obstructions restricting nanotech development. One major setoff is the fact

that the nanostructures are excessively little to reflect visible radiation in a seeable manner, doing them practically unseeable

( Garfinkel 104 ) .

However, Nanotech applied scientists remain hopeful and argue that ; & # 8220 ; With equal support,

research workers will shortly be able to custom build simple molecules that can hive away and treat information and

manipulate or manufacture other molecules, including more of themselves. This may happen before the bend of

the century. & # 8221 ; ( Roland 30 ) There are other developments besides, that are forcing nanotech in the right

way for as Lipkin pointed out recent developments have lead to possibilities of computing machines believing in

3-D ( 5 ) . Which is a large measure towards the processing of information that nanotech requires. Although

there are still unreciprocated inquiries from some of the scientific community, research workers believe that they

are traveling frontward and will one twenty-four hours be able to bring forth nanomachines.

One such machine is regarded as a replicator. A replicator, as it & # 8217 ; s name implies, will retroflex ;

much like the manner in which cistrons are able to retroflex themselves ( Drexler, & # 8220 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 23 ) . It is besides

believed that one time a replicator has made a transcript of itself, it will besides be able to set up atoms to construct

wholly new stuffs and constructions ( Dowie 5 ) .

Another sensed nanomachine is the assembly program. The assembly program is a little machine that will

take in natural stuffs, follow a set of specific instructions, re-arrange the atoms, and consequence in an

wholly new merchandise ( Darling 53 ) . Hence, one could do diamonds merely by giving some assembly programs

a ball of coal. Drexler states that the assembly programs will be the most good nanites for they will construct

constructions atom by atom ( & # 8221 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 12 ) . Along with the assembly programs comes its opposite, the disassembler.

The disassembler is really similar to the assembly programs, except it works backwards. It is believed that these

nanites will let scientists to analyse stuffs by interrupting them down, atom by atom ( Drexler,

& # 8220 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 19 ) . As a consequence of the enhanced production effects of assembly programs Drexler believes that they will

be able to shrivel computing machines and better their operation, giving us nanocomputers. These machines will

be able to make all things that current computing machines can make, but at a much more efficient degree.

Once these nanomachines are complete they will be able to hold on molecules, bond them together,

and finally ensue in a larger, new construction ( Drexler, & # 8220 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 13 ) . Through this and similar

processes the possibilities of nanotech are endless. It is believed that nanites could construct automatons, shrunken

versions of Millss, projectile ships, microscopic pigboats that patrol the blood stream, and more of

themselves ( Stix 94 ) . Hence, their is no bound to what nanotech can make, it could set up circuits and construct

super-computers, or give ageless life ( Stix 97 ) . Overall Drexler contends ; & # 8220 ; Progresss in the engineerings

of medical specialty, infinite, calculation, and production-and warfare all depend on our ability to set up atoms.

With assembly programs, we will be able to refashion our universe, or destruct it & # 8221 ; ( & # 8221 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 14 ) .

In a more specific spectrum, are the impacts nanotechnology could hold on the country of

production. Nanotechnology could greatly increase our agencies of production. Nanites have the ability to

convert majorities of natural stuffs into manufactured goods by set uping atoms ( DuCharme 58 ) . As a consequence

of this increased efficiency, DuCharme believes that this will go the norm in bring forthing goods, that

this whole filed will now be done at the molecular degree ( 34 ) . Thu

s, nanotech could extinguish the demand for

production conditions that are harmful or hard to keep ( Roland 31 ) . Furthermore, the impact that

nanotech will hold on production could take to a ne’er before seen copiousness of goods. Costss and labour

will all be significantly cheaper. Everyone would be able to utilize nanotech as a tool for increased efficiency

in the country of production ( DuCharme 60 ) . The overall effects of nanotech on bring forthing stuffs were

best summed up by Dowie, & # 8220 ; This new revolution won & # 8217 ; t necessitate suppression, boiling, runing, etc. Goods

would now be built from the atom up by nanomachines & # 8221 ; ( 4 ) .

Nanotech will besides be able to profit us in other ways. One great advantage to nanotech will be

the betterments it will impart in the countries of medical specialty. With the production of microscopic pigboats,

this subdivision of nanotech could be the most appealing. These nanites would be able to police the

blood stream feeling friendly chemicals and change overing bad 1s into harmless waste ( Darling 7 ) . But

nanites will be able to make more than this, this trade name of nanites could besides mend damaged DNA and Hunt

malignant neoplastic disease ( Port 128 ) . Therefore, nanites would be able to bring around many unwellnesss and fix DNA. Furthermore,

nanites could take the demand to maintain animate beings for human usage, they could merely bring forth the nutrient inside

your organic structure ( Darling 59 ) . As a consequence of nanites drifting through your organic structure and assailing harmful

substances such as cholesterin, people could populate indefinitely? possibly a millenary ( Davidson A1 ) .

This thought opens up another door in the field of nanotech research, covering with the potency for

immortality. But aside from supplying ageless life through repairing DNA and bring arounding unwellnesss, nanotech

could be used with cryogenies in supplying ceaseless life. The current job with cryogenies is

after a individual is frozen the cells in their organic structure expand and explosion. Nanotech could work out for this job for

they could happen and replace the broken cells ( DuCharme 152 ) . Besides, nevertheless, nanites wouldn & # 8217 ; t even

necessitate the full frozen organic structure. They could merely retroflex the Deoxyribonucleic acid in a frozen caput and so bring forth a

whole new individual ( DuCharme 155 ) .

However, this poses a possible job, that being overpopulation, and the environment.

DuCharme contends that this should non be a concern for a high criterion of life will maintain the

population from turning ( 61 ) . However, if the population were to increase nanotech will hold produced

the energy to let us to populate in presently uninhabitable countries of the Earth ( DuCharme 63 ) . Nanites will

allow people to non merely live on Earth, but on the sea, under the sea, resistance, and in infinite due to

increased flight capablenesss ( DuCharme 64 ) . Hence, the human race will hold a close infinite infinite for

life. Besides, nanites would cut down the toxins manufactured from autos by bring forthing inexpensive electric autos,

but besides use disassemblers to clean up waste mopess ( DuCharme 68 ) . The benefits of nanotech are

countless, it could be used to make anything from descrying to cut downing the lawn ( Davidson A1 ) . However, with

the good comes the bad. Nanotech could besides convey some distinguishable disadvantages.

One scenario which illustrates the danger of nanotech is referred to as the grey sludge job.

Gray Goo is referred to as when one million millions of nanites band together and eat everything they come into

contact with ( Davidson A1 ) . However, Davidson merely gets the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the

lethality of grey sludge. Roland better illustrates this jeopardies menace ; & # 8220 ; Nanotechnology could engender a new

signifier of life that would overpower all other life on Earth, replacing it with a drove of nanomachines.

This is sometimes called the & # 8216 ; grey sludge & # 8217 ; scenario. It could take the signifier of a new disease being, which

might pass over out whole species, including Homo Sapiens & # 8221 ; ( 32 ) . Simply put the nanites would retroflex to

rapidly and destruct everything including the human race ( Stix 95 ) . Furthermore, the rapid reproduction rate

that nanotech is capable of could let it to out-produce existent beings and turn the biosphere to dust

( Drexler, & # 8220 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 172 ) . However, decease is merely one of the dangers of grey sludge. If controlled by the

incorrect people, nanites could be used to change or destruct those individuals enemies ( Roland 32 ) . But grey sludge

is merely of one of the many possible injuries of nanotech.

If so coveted, nanotech could be used as a deathly arm. Although microscopic automatons don & # 8217 ; T

sound like a really effectual arm, Drexler states that they are more powerful than Nuclear arms, and

much easier to obtain ( & # 8221 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 174 ) . But aside from being used as a arm, nanites would be able to

green goods arms at a speedy and cheap rate. In fact, with the ability to divide isotopes and atoms

one would be able to pull out fissile Uranium 235 or Plutonium 239. With these elements, a individual

has the cardinal ingredients for a atomic bomb ( Roland 34 ) . As a consequence of the deadliness of nano-weapons the

foremost to develop nanotech could utilize it to destruct his challengers. New methods for domination will be that is

greater than Nukes and more unsafe ( Roland 33 ) . This along with simple mistakes, such as having the

incorrect instructions points toward nanotech making more injury than good ( Darling 56 ) .

Furthermore, the menaces from nanotech could be a possible cause of extinction ( Drexler, & # 8220 ; Engines & # 8221 ;

174 ) . Drexler continues by stating that unless safeguards are taken nano could take to finish

obliteration ( & # 8221 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 23 ) .

However, if nanotech does non take to extinction, it could be used to increase the power of provinces

and persons. Bacon believes that merely the really most elect persons will have benefits from

nanotech. Beyond that nevertheless, it is perceived that advanced tech extends the possibilities of anguish used

by a province ( Drexler, & # 8220 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 176 ) . However, provinces will go more powerful in other ways. With the

addition agencies of production, nanotech could take the demand for any if non all people ( Drexler,

& # 8220 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 176 ) . This opens new doors for totalitarian provinces. They would no longer necessitate maintaining

anyone alive, persons would non be enslaved, instead they would be killed ( Drexler, & # 8220 ; Engines & # 8221 ; 176 ) . It

is perceived that all the benefits would take all mutuality, and destruct the quality of life itself

( Roland 34 ) .

In the terminal, nanotech could give a lifestyle ne’er earlier imagined. On the other manus, it could

destroy full species. The effects and potencies of nanotech are best summed up by it & # 8217 ; s discoverer,

Drexler, & # 8220 ; Nanotechnology and unreal intelligence could convey the ultimate tools of devastation, but they

are non inherently destructive. With attention, we can utilize them to construct the ultimate tools of peace & # 8221 ; ( & # 8221 ; Engines & # 8221 ;

190 ) . The inquiry of how good nanotech will turn out to be, can merely be answered by clip. Time will

state whether developments and advancement in unreal intelligence and molecular engineering will finally

green goods true nanotechnology. And, if produced, whether this subdivision of scientific discipline will give us immortality

or entire obliteration.