Have you ever heard of gray goo? The term was first used by molecular nanotechnology pioneer Eric Drexler in his 1986 book Engines of Creation to describe a possible doomsday scenario in which out-of-control, self-replicating nanomachines essentially destroy all life on Earth. The notion has since been expounded upon by other writers in both science fiction and more serious works. But how likely is such a scenario? According to the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN; Brooklyn, NY), not very. "A gray goo robot would face a much harder task than merely replicating itself," the Center says on its Web site (www.crnano.org). "It would also have to survive in the environment, move around, and convert what it finds into raw materials and power... None of these functions would be part of a molecular manufacturing system." In another document on the Center's site, Drexler now says he regrets even coining the term. And, in the finishing industry, gray goo is even less a concern than it is in the world of molecular nanotechnology, in which nanodevices are built from the bottom up-literally an atom or molecule at a time.
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