We know very little about nanotechnology because we haven’t been using it for very long. This could pose risks; for example, the use of nanoparticles could have toxicological and environmental impacts. More research is needed in this area to enable safe use of nanoparticles and inform standardised regulatory frameworks.
- View Highlight
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(highlight:: Eric Drexler, also known as the father of nanotechnology, brought to the public consciousness the idea of “grey goo” in his 1986 book Engines of Creation. The scenario goes like this: in the distant future, an oil tanker meets a calamity and spills billions of gallons of its cargo into the natural environment. To address this environmental disaster, a platoon of nanorobots is deployed. They are designed to self-replicate, consume hydrocarbons and neutralise the spill. However, these robots not only target the oil, but also everything organic around them. The relentless replication and consumption swiftly lead to the annihilation of all life on Earth.
Drexler published a paper in 2004 saying that “runaway replicators, while theoretically possible according to the laws of physics, cannot be built with today’s nanotechnology toolset.'“ He adds that “self-replicating machines aren’t necessary for molecular nanotechnology, and aren’t part of current development plans”. In this paper, the authors warn that scaremongering over unlikely scenarios like grey goo is taking attention away from serious safety concerns, such as deliberate abuse of the technology.)
- View Highlight
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There appears to be some synergy between nanotechnology strategy and other areas like AI governance and biosecurity, so there is likely to be a lot of transferable methodologies and findings between these areas. An example of a successful precedent from the biotechnology community that could be applied to nanotechnology is the NIH Guidelines on Recombinant DNA technology, which were so well accepted that the privately funded research community has continued to submit research protocols for juried review despite it being optional for them to do so. This shows that advanced preparations and self-regulation are possible and can be effective.
- View Highlight
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(highlight:: Nanotechnology strategy research
• A concrete project suggested by Ben Snodin at Rethink Priorities would be to “consider what you would do if you knew that advanced nanotechnology was coming in 2032” and to seek consensus from people who are well-informed about nanotechnology strategy and interested in ensuring safe nanotechnology development. The result could point to a particular high-value intervention, and perhaps help generate a plan in the event that nanotechnology development were to accelerate.
• Another idea is to create forecasts of the timeline of key developments and effects of advanced nanotechnology. This would help “[direct] work within nanotechnology strategy towards the most high-value sub-areas, perhaps increasing the chance that high-value interventions are found and successfully executed” (Snodin, 2022).
• A third potentially helpful project could be to “identify and monitor potential warning signs of surprising progress towards advanced nanotechnology, for example by identifying the relevant areas of current research, the most important research groups, and key bottlenecks and potential breakthroughs” (Snodin, 2022).
• This kind of work is most likely suited to engineers with a chemistry/physics/bio/materials/electronics background, particularly people with PhDs in those areas.)
- View Highlight
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(highlight:: Stewarding intellectual property
• Private actors with control over key intellectual property in nanotechnology could have a significant influence on the use of that technology (unlike in AI algorithm development). As a result, it is important to ensure that these private actors have incentives that align with ensuring safe nanotechnology development.
• Enforcing nanotechnology patents could be a good way of restricting access to powerful nanotechnologies. However, the only way to determine if a nanotechnology patent has been infringed is to use sophisticated and expensive microscopy techniques and equipment, making the enforcement of nanotechnology patents prohibitively expensive and practically impossible. As a result, these factors make disclosing patents undesirable, which could make tracking developments in nanotechnology difficult.
• It is probably a little harder to contribute to this area. If you have a chemistry/physics/materials background, you could potentially work on developing more low-cost microscopy or other detection methods to help verify if a nanotechnology patent has been infringed. Having an understanding of IP law may also be helpful.)
- View Highlight
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Navigating the uncharted territory of nanotechnology requires a thoughtful and cautious approach to ensure that early initiatives in research and communication set a positive foundation for future progress rather than inadvertently impeding it
- View Highlight
-

(highlight:: Here are some organisations that might have relevant work, or could be well-placed to work on nanotechnology strategy.
• The Foresight Institute
• Center for Responsible Nanotechnology
• Institute for Molecular Manufacturing
• Center for Nanotechnology in Society at ASU)
- View Highlight
-

We know very little about nanotechnology because we haven’t been using it for very long. This could pose risks; for example, the use of nanoparticles could have toxicological and environmental impacts. More research is needed in this area to enable safe use of nanoparticles and inform standardised regulatory frameworks.
- View Highlight
-

(highlight:: Eric Drexler, also known as the father of nanotechnology, brought to the public consciousness the idea of “grey goo” in his 1986 book Engines of Creation. The scenario goes like this: in the distant future, an oil tanker meets a calamity and spills billions of gallons of its cargo into the natural environment. To address this environmental disaster, a platoon of nanorobots is deployed. They are designed to self-replicate, consume hydrocarbons and neutralise the spill. However, these robots not only target the oil, but also everything organic around them. The relentless replication and consumption swiftly lead to the annihilation of all life on Earth.
Drexler published a paper in 2004 saying that “runaway replicators, while theoretically possible according to the laws of physics, cannot be built with today’s nanotechnology toolset.'“ He adds that “self-replicating machines aren’t necessary for molecular nanotechnology, and aren’t part of current development plans”. In this paper, the authors warn that scaremongering over unlikely scenarios like grey goo is taking attention away from serious safety concerns, such as deliberate abuse of the technology.)
- View Highlight
-

There appears to be some synergy between nanotechnology strategy and other areas like AI governance and biosecurity, so there is likely to be a lot of transferable methodologies and findings between these areas. An example of a successful precedent from the biotechnology community that could be applied to nanotechnology is the NIH Guidelines on Recombinant DNA technology, which were so well accepted that the privately funded research community has continued to submit research protocols for juried review despite it being optional for them to do so. This shows that advanced preparations and self-regulation are possible and can be effective.
- View Highlight
-

(highlight:: Nanotechnology strategy research
• A concrete project suggested by Ben Snodin at Rethink Priorities would be to “consider what you would do if you knew that advanced nanotechnology was coming in 2032” and to seek consensus from people who are well-informed about nanotechnology strategy and interested in ensuring safe nanotechnology development. The result could point to a particular high-value intervention, and perhaps help generate a plan in the event that nanotechnology development were to accelerate.
• Another idea is to create forecasts of the timeline of key developments and effects of advanced nanotechnology. This would help “[direct] work within nanotechnology strategy towards the most high-value sub-areas, perhaps increasing the chance that high-value interventions are found and successfully executed” (Snodin, 2022).
• A third potentially helpful project could be to “identify and monitor potential warning signs of surprising progress towards advanced nanotechnology, for example by identifying the relevant areas of current research, the most important research groups, and key bottlenecks and potential breakthroughs” (Snodin, 2022).
• This kind of work is most likely suited to engineers with a chemistry/physics/bio/materials/electronics background, particularly people with PhDs in those areas.)
- View Highlight
-

(highlight:: Stewarding intellectual property
• Private actors with control over key intellectual property in nanotechnology could have a significant influence on the use of that technology (unlike in AI algorithm development). As a result, it is important to ensure that these private actors have incentives that align with ensuring safe nanotechnology development.
• Enforcing nanotechnology patents could be a good way of restricting access to powerful nanotechnologies. However, the only way to determine if a nanotechnology patent has been infringed is to use sophisticated and expensive microscopy techniques and equipment, making the enforcement of nanotechnology patents prohibitively expensive and practically impossible. As a result, these factors make disclosing patents undesirable, which could make tracking developments in nanotechnology difficult.
• It is probably a little harder to contribute to this area. If you have a chemistry/physics/materials background, you could potentially work on developing more low-cost microscopy or other detection methods to help verify if a nanotechnology patent has been infringed. Having an understanding of IP law may also be helpful.)
- View Highlight
-

Navigating the uncharted territory of nanotechnology requires a thoughtful and cautious approach to ensure that early initiatives in research and communication set a positive foundation for future progress rather than inadvertently impeding it
- View Highlight
-

(highlight:: Here are some organisations that might have relevant work, or could be well-placed to work on nanotechnology strategy.
• The Foresight Institute
• Center for Responsible Nanotechnology
• Institute for Molecular Manufacturing
• Center for Nanotechnology in Society at ASU)
- View Highlight
-