The shape of things to come?

[observer]

Interesting science series on TV; looking at things that are theoretically possible in the future (if the four horsemen of the apocolypse allow!). 1) Super Conductors (magnetism) allowing an anti-gravity effect, with trains running at over 500mph, and even folk literally flying. 2) Table top factories: bit like a micro-wave cooker, that can build anything (eg food) from rearranged atoms, thus tackling poverty at a stroke. 3) Nano-Carbon tubes: thinner than hair yet stronger than steel, that could be used to create an elevator to a permant space station, thus negating the need for expensive rocket fuel. 4) Nano-bots: tiny robots that can be injected into people to fight cancers, blood clots and repair other damage. Of course, there could be a downside: the nano-bots could be used for military purposes to attack human populations (like a swarm of locusts); and also made to be self replicating; which could allow them to become totally destructive and uncontrollable, turning the planet into "goo".

[Bazj]

And any good ideas that will put the likes of the big oil companies out of business will never see the light of day. It is better in the eyes of Shell, BP et al to give some inventor a 20 million pound pay off than allow him to sell his idea to the market and do them out of business.

 

I always remember a product years ago which was on look northwest. It was a water and sand based devive which when sprayed onto a rusty area of say a car, it removed it all at a stroke and the rust would not come back and the surface was right for treatment. They even tested it on an old Morris Marina and the results were fantastic. It never made it to the market; either because it was rubbish or the big manufacturers of cars decided to buy the inventor off.

 

Remember plastic engine components on tomorrows world which did not wear out? me too.... however they don't appear to be in use. Probably because what good is a car which never needs replacing?

 

Big Brother and big business go hand in hand!

[Evil Sid]

are you sure you weren't watching re runs of star trek

 

strange how these things turn out. stuff like that has been written about for years and only recently passing from the realms of science fiction to science fact. i know daresbury lab was working on nano technology years ago with some success so who knows it may be sooner than you think

[Paul Kennedy]

Of course, there could be a downside: the nano-bots could be used for military purposes to attack human populations (like a swarm of locusts); and also made to be self replicating; which could allow them to become totally destructive and uncontrollable, turning the planet into "goo".

 

And given the history of the world, and the death and destruction humans wage against each other, then this is the most likely outcome.

[asperity]

And any good ideas that will put the likes of the big oil companies out of business will never see the light of day. It is better in the eyes of Shell, BP et al to give some inventor a 20 million pound pay off than allow him to sell his idea to the market and do them out of business.

 

I always remember a product years ago which was on look northwest. It was a water and sand based devive which when sprayed onto a rusty area of say a car, it removed it all at a stroke and the rust would not come back and the surface was right for treatment. They even tested it on an old Morris Marina and the results were fantastic. It never made it to the market; either because it was rubbish or the big manufacturers of cars decided to buy the inventor off.

 

Remember plastic engine components on tomorrows world which did not wear out? me too.... however they don't appear to be in use. Probably because what good is a car which never needs replacing?

 

Big Brother and big business go hand in hand!

 

They use that device in shipyards and for cleaning buildings. Its caslled grit blasting and I'm sure what you're describing is nothing more or less than a smaller version. These conspiracy theories are getting worse!