From: Terry W. Colvin (fortean1@mindspring.com)
Date: Mon Apr 28 2003 - 11:08:31 MDT
< http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/sciences/story/0,12243,945159,00.html >
Prince sparks row over nanotechnology
Staff and agencies
Monday April 28, 2003
The Prince of Wales, who is to meet leading scientists to discuss concerns
about nanotechnology, was warned today against giving credence to "scare
stories".
The new technology has already created tiny machines such as transistors the
size of a single molecule. But there is a growing debate on how it will be
used, with optimists pointing to the prospect of pollution-free energy
production and pessimists worried about nano-terrorism.
The Prince, who also played a high profile role in raising fears over
genetically modified foods, has warned of the potentially "enormous
environmental and social risks" from nanotechnologies.
The so-called "grey goo" catastrophe feared by some scientists involves
millions of tiny molecular nano-robots replicating themselves and rapidly
annihilating life on earth.
Ian Gibson, the chair of the Commons science and technology select
committee, warned the prince to be careful. He told BBC Radio 4's Today
programme: "I'm very happy for any individual - however mighty they might be
- to examine science, but not to go into the debate with any kind of bias
and prejudice. And we shouldn't be associated with scare stories - science
fiction about grey goos, the world being swallowed up. When a prince - an
incipient king - speaks, people will listen."
...
see also http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/opinion/story/0,12981,945197,00.html
Size matters
While optimists say nanotechnology will offer all sorts of benefits to
humankind, pessimists such as Prince Charles fear it could spell disaster,
says Tim Radford
Monday April 28, 2003
...
-- Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1@mindspring.com > Alternate: < fortean1@msn.com > Home Page: < http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/8958/index.html > Sites: * Fortean Times * Mystic's Haven * TLCB * U.S. Message Text Formatting (USMTF) Program ------------ Member: Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood (TLCB) Mailing List TLCB Web Site: < http://www.tlc-brotherhood.org >[Vietnam veterans, Allies, CIA/NSA, and "steenkeen" contractors are welcome.]
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