Nano Threats
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Transcript of Nano Threats
8/8/2019 Nano Threats
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nano-threats 1/15
The Dangers of Nanotechnology
v.gopichand india
8/8/2019 Nano Threats
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Ov er view
New technologies br ing the potential f or new dangers
Previous technological advancements and their unf oreseen dangers
What is nanotechnology and why is it extr aor dinar y?
The ( positive) potential of small things Threats
Biological
Envir onmental
Militar y
Other No policy scenar io
Policy Suggestions
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New technolog ies and new dangers
Humanity is acquir ing all the r ight technology f or all
the wr ong reasons.
R . Buck minster Fuller (1895 - 1983)
New technologies have br ought with them many
tr ou bles.
Pr ogress without limits is not the best policy.
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Pre vious technolog ical ad v ancements and
their unforeseen dangers
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Pre vious technolog ical ad v ancements and
their unforeseen dangers
Even ³ peacef ul´ uses of
technology have had
horr i ble disasters.
The Cher no byl disaster wass pread by wind to three
continents within 9 days.
Spread of Chernobyl radiation
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Pre vious technolog ical ad v ancements and
their unforeseen dangers
Not just nuclear
The use of CFCs endanger our ozone and the entire climate
system on Earth.
Silicon breast im plants ended up leaking and being extremely danger ous to the patient.
Cancer clusters appear near power lines due to r adiation.
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W hat is Nanotechnology and why is it
extraordinary?
The term ³nanotechnology´ refersto any technology related to features of nanometer scale (i.e. the scale on which vir uses and bacter ia exist).
It gives contr ol over pr operties of mater ials and str uctures at an atomic scale, so that engineer ing of mater ials and devices s pecif ic to a need is extremely sim ple and cheap.
This kind of contr ol has never
bef ore been seen in human histor y.
Artist rendition of a ³Nanobot´
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The (positiv e) potential of small things
Nanotechnology may lead to greater contr ol and
precision over device design.
It might lead to greater contr ol over pr operties of new
mater ials.
It might lead to more tar geted dr ug deliver y.
It may pr ovide greater sensing technology.
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Problem: The Potential Threats of
Nanotechnology
As with all new technology, we
should evaluate nanotechnology
not only on its potential gains, but
also on its potential threats.
Some of these f all into thef ollowing categor ies:
Biological
Envir onmental
Militar y
Other
Nightmare ³Gray Goo´ scenario
cells in a petri dish
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Threats - Biolog ical
The advent of nanotechnology allows f or new contr ol over our own
biology.
³Nanomeds´ have greatly untested side effects. It isunknown what kinds of alter nate pr o blems could becreated by alter ing DNA,
cells, and our own biological beings.
³Nanobot´ with a red blood cell
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Threats ² To the en vironment and other
species
CFCs were f irst developed as safer alter natives to ammonia.
When nanotu bes, hailed as
the harbinger of nanotech,were in jected into r ats, 15%of them died quickly. ³Thehighest death r ate we had ever seen´.
Hole in the
ozone layer
Lab rats
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Threats ² Military
Nanotechnology is being
ex plored f or potential
militar y applications.
It is cheap, easy to
re pr oduce, and possi bly
remar ka bly usef ul in both
armor and weapons. Is there
any dou bt our enemieswould ex ploit
nanotechnology against
civilization
?
Kim Jong Il ± Leader of N. Korea
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Threats ² Other
Nanoassemblers
The ³Holy Gr ail of
Nanotechnology´
Self-copying nano bots
³The perfect plague´
Artist rendering of nanoassemblers
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W hat do we do?
Peacef ul Uses Treaty ± based on S pace treaties
Ethical guidelines f or wor king in nanotechnology
Close monitor ing and coor dination of all nanotech
resear ch f or potential hazar ds
Extensive testing f or potential ill effects of all new
nanotechnology pr oducts
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Summary
Nanotechnology is an exciting f ield. However, many
of its uses and a buses are unknown.
Some f oresight today in curbing potential dangers
could prevent huge potential disasters in all areas of
life.
The recommended policy changes will have minimal
im pact on scientif ic resear ch and will have a great
positive im pact on people¶s lives.