Nano Threats

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 The Dangers of Nanotechnology 

v.gopichand india

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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.