If you are a big fan of science fiction movies , you already know that these stories got 2 main points. First one is amaze us with the insteresting developed technology and second one is freak us over some fictional doomsday scenarios. Obviously Gray Goo fits the second category , However is it really fictional ?
What is this Gray Goo ?
This Gray Goo term is about a possible doomsday scenario created by nano technology applications. Nanotechnology is a science that aims to manipulate matter in molecular level. Nanotechnology interested in building devices on molecular level and these devices tries to manipulate or interfere other molecules or hopefully atoms in the future.
There is a term called assemblers in the nanotechnology. You probably seen these in Dr.Who or other science fiction series. Basicly this futuristic term refers to nanotechnologic small machines that can build materials molecule by molecule. Imagine the things you can build by using billions of these nanotechnologic devices. The assemblers working mechaniscm is pretty simple they basicly put the molecules together in order what you want to produce.
Doomsday Scenario
So main problem starts with the question How do we get so many assemblers ?. The answer is simple first you need to create a prototype in the lab then you give work order to them to create other assemblers. This type of working mechaniscm will make manifacturing process rate increase exponensially.
However what if we face some problem in production phase and we lose our control on this assemblers. Assemblers going to turn every organic substance into more assemblers. As a result earth will be covered with Gray Goo or as I said a gray cloud of machines wondering around the world and it will digest and turn every life into nanomachines. What if we connect this neurotechnology some neural network like Skynet Oh wait I already wrote it.
When we consider our current technological level in nenotechnology it is not a problem right now the created nanotechnologic devices don't have ability to consume all organic matter and they can't really survive in every place. However if we face with this kind of resillient nanotechnology we are kind of defenseless.
Eventhough it is a great fantasy a lot of scientist thinks that we won't even be able to create something like Assemblers and even if we create it will be pretty easy to notice some kind of production error in early phase and we can prevent it without spreading it to wider.
Well we don't have to piss our pants because of this Gray Goo think yet but What if Skynet takes control over this nanotechnologic devices. Oh damn ! we better create tons of old school EMP devices to nuke those little assemblers.
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