[extropy-chat] Smalley, Drexler and the monster in Lake Michigan

[Eugen Leitl]

On Sun, Dec 07, 2003 at 07:37:33PM +1100, Brett Paatsch wrote:

> 1) What *particular* machine is being considered? (I think I'm just
> paraphrasing Hal here actually, so perhaps better to answer Hal).

No specific machine. Not even a specific process, though there are early
suggestions, e.g.

http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/hydroCarbonMetabolism.html

(several of these are heavy steric hindrance candidates).

http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/mechanosynthesis.html

"mechanosynthesis" and "machine-phase chemistry" are good keywords.
 
> 2) If neither Drexler (and associates) nor Smalley (and associates) were to
> *accept* the burden of proof scientifically what happens by default
> politically?

The Nobel "what's this purple crap in soxhleted soot?" laureate wins by default</duh>
 
-- Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a>
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