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Science Forum Index » Nanotechnology Forum » Nanotechnology Report Creates Urgency for Preparation
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| Mike Treder, CRN |
 Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:27 pm |
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Guest
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Nanotechnology as a method of general-purpose manufacturing, making
powerful products with revolutionary implications -- that concept
received a significant boost this week with publication of a
long-awaited US government report.
A congressionally-mandated review of US nanotechnology policy conducted
by the National Materials Advisory Board (NMAB) includes a study of
"the feasibility of manufacturing systems capable of building, with
molecular precision, complex systems that consist of multiple
components." The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN) expects
that the NMAB report will accelerate research toward the development of
molecularly-precise manufacturing. However, without adequate
understanding and preparation, exponential atom-by-atom construction of
advanced products could have catastrophic results. Conclusions
published in this report should create a new level of urgency in
preparing for molecular manufacturing.
Future generations of nanotechnology will use advanced nanoscale
machinery to construct powerful products with molecular precision.
Molecular construction will lead to advanced capacities, including
tabletop fully-automated factories capable of constructing duplicate
factories in less than a day. The economic, security, military, and
environmental implications of molecular manufacturing will be extreme.
Vicious cycles in any of these areas could spiral quickly out of
control unless the problem has been studied and understood in advance.
Extreme or hasty responses to developing problems could easily make
things worse.
According to the NMAB report, "the important task before the committee
was to assess the feasibility of sophisticated manufacturing
processes...not usually considered to be examples of self-assembly" in
order "to produce more complex materials, devices, and, perhaps even
entire complex systems from molecular components in a bottom-up
fashion." The report concluded that although some parameters and
capabilities cannot be predicted with certainty at this time,
"[r]esearch funding that is based on the ability of investigators to
produce experimental demonstrations that link to abstract models and
guide long-term vision is most appropriate to achieve this goal." CRN
expects this finding, as well as the more detailed reviews in the body
of the report, to strengthen a growing acceptance of molecular
manufacturing concepts.
Increased funding of research leading toward exponential construction
of atomically-precise products is now a strong possibility. The Center
for Responsible Nanotechnology urgently recommends equivalent funding
and priority for research into the profound societal and environmental
implications of molecular manufacturing, including consideration of the
most aggressive potential timelines and powerful capabilities.
Further Reading:
NMAB Report: "A Matter of Size: Triennial Review of the National
Nanotechnology Initiative" (see pages 106-108)
"Thirty Essential Nanotechnology Studies" (covers many topics, from
technical issues to organizational responses to problems)
"Molecular Manufacturing: What, Why and How" (a roadmap from today's
capabilities to advanced molecular manufacturing systems)
The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (www.CRNano.org), a
non-profit think tank concerned with the major societal and
environmental implications of advanced nanotechnology, is headquartered
in New York. CRN is an affiliate of World Care, an international,
non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. The opinions of CRN do not
necessarily represent those of World Care. |
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