An advance in nanotechnology may lead to the creation of artificial muscles, superstrong electric cars and wallpaper-thin electronics, researchers report.
A new report from the United Nations University's Millennium Project warns that many people still do not appreciate how fast science and technology (S&T) will change over the next 25 years, and given this rapid development along several different fronts, the possibility of technology growing beyond human control must now be taken seriously.
Nanotechnology could soon enable a new generation of chemical and biological weapons that could escape current arms inspection schemes, according to experts.
NASA researchers on developing swarms of micro "nanobots" that have "abundant flexibility" to change shape into land rovers, antennas, or other devices as needed when exploring distant worlds.
Rat cells grown onto microscopic silicon chips worked as tiny robots, perhaps a first step towards a self-assembling device.
The authors evaluate the risks from several popular doomsday scenarios including smallpox biological terrorism, grey goo, and nuclear terrorism.
Advances in nanotechnology, genetics and nuclear isomers are permitting the production of a new generation of weapons intended to maintain future US military superiority and deter "rogue states" and terrorists.
Awed at the pace of technological advances, a faction of geeky writers believes our world is about to change so radically that envisioning what comes next is nearly impossible.
The invisibly small particles and fibers that scientists are producing in the hot new field of nanotechnology pose health and environmental risks great enough to justify banning, for now, certain cosmetics now found on the U.S. market and also halting the deliberate release of nanomaterials into the environment, according to an independent report commissioned by the British government.
Scientists are calling for a public debate into nanotechnology to dispel fears about the new science and prevent it being labelled as "another GM".