Just had a quick thought: one of the big problems with nano-technology is the unregulated replication problem: nano-bots can get killed off very easily, and so most concepts of nano-bots include self-replication. What if those nano-bots could only duplicate themselves in a specific medium -- like, say, an auger with a specific set of percentages of elements? It would mean that any duplication of said medium on a large scale could become problematic; but it might be a way to at least limit replication down to specific areas.
Also, what if self-destruction occured in easily duplicatable other medium: say, any contact with oxygen or nitrogen would kill it off?
Interesting thought.
Posted by Ted Stevko at May 28, 2003 04:24 AM