Nanotechnology Catastrophe Scenarios Vedrana Novosel, Viraj Sapre, Szu-Chia Lu

Definition We are drawing from science fiction, research, and speculative articles to find scenarios of world destruction caused by nanotechnology. 2

Example K. Eric Drexler’s coined the term “gray goo” in his book “Engines of Creation,” referring to the scenario that nanotechnology is used to build self-replicating machines which consume all of Earth’s matter 3

Notable Aspects Biohazards Sentience of Nanobots Self-Replicating Nanobots Human Misuse of Nanotechnology Environmental Damage Note: there are some overlaps between these scenarios 4

Biohazards Plague – “Queen City Jazz” chronicles life after a destructive nanotech plague – In the “Plague Year” series, nanotech supposed to cure cancer by dismantling specific cells, dismantles everything Exposure to nanotech particles – Researchers speculated that exposure could cause cardiovascular disease at the 1st Nobel Forum Mini-Symposium on Nanotoxicology 5

Sentience of Nanobots Ability and desire to destroy humanity – In “Prey ”, nanobots exhibit intelligent, predatory behavior, attacking and killing animals by: tracing tracks suffocating their prey by blocking the bronchial tubes tripping their prey by making the ground slippery Mind control – In “Prey”, nanobots can devour and take over their hosts, initially affecting their decisions and then controlling them, while allowing them to travel and contaminate others 6

Self-Replicating Nanobots “Gray goo”: out-of-control self-replicating robots consume all matter on Earth while building more of themselves – First stated by Eric Drexler in context of nanoscale assemblers Nanotech plants Could out-compete real plants, crowding the biosphere with an inedible foliage Omnivorous nanotech bacteria Could out-compete real bacteria and reduce the biosphere to dust in a matter of days 7

Human Misuse of Nanotechnology Nanotech weapons – Nanomite warheads are used in “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” – Could lead to a destructive arms race as described in a paper from the Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology Economic and social disruption – The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology warns of artificially inflated prices and an abundance of products due to molecular manufacturing – Opportunities for world dictatorship mentioned at the Oxford Catastrophic Risks Conference 8

Environmental Damage Nanomaterials are not inert – EPA study found that nanoparticles are showing up in the livers of research animals, can seep into living cells, and perhaps piggyback on bacteria to enter the food chain Nano particles could damage the cells of living organisms – Causes ecosystem and biosphere destruction Pollution – “Nano Litterbugs” article warns of nanoscale pollution that we wouldn’t be able to get rid of 9

Why Is This Important? Scenarios from fiction hint at society’s views about nanotech Help to determine how science should proceed and about what we should be cautious Inform decisions about regulations and policies Speculate on how we can protect ourselves and our planet 10

Further Research Feasibility of these scenarios (fact vs. fiction) Technical details How far into the future? 11

References 1. humanity-nukes-nano/ ow=essays&essaydate=

References Continued 10. _Becomes_Reality 11. ml Goo Engines of creation – Eric Drexler 16. nanotechnology-revolution