August 13, 2006: Nanotech's Dark Side - Sir Charles Shults III | Aerospace Projects - Robert Bigelow
The Art Bell Archive · Arthur William Bell III
January 10, 20262h 39m
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Show Notes
Art Bell opens with an interview with Robert Bigelow, founder of Bigelow Aerospace, who discusses the successful launch of Genesis 1, his privately funded expandable spacecraft orbiting at 342 miles above Earth. Bigelow describes multi-layered shielding that outperforms aluminum in impact tests, 13 onboard cameras, and biological experiments including Madagascar hissing beetles that survived a two-hour vacuum. He reveals plans for Genesis 2 in January and a five-year roadmap, while lamenting that America lacks affordable launch capability, forcing reliance on Russian rockets.
Sir Charles Shults III then joins to explore the promises and perils of nanotechnology. He describes liquid armor that hardens on impact to stop bullets while weighing no more than a thick T-shirt, gold nanoparticles that destroy Alzheimer plaques when activated by radio waves, and ultracapacitors grown from carbon nanotubes that could recharge electric vehicles in minutes. Shults also explains how bacterial nanowires are being used to create revolutionary battery electrodes.
The conversation turns to darker possibilities, including self-replicating disassemblers that could trigger the gray goo scenario, targeted nanoviruses capable of attacking specific genetic markers, and the absence of regulatory oversight governing nanotechnology research. Shults warns that social development has not kept pace with these technological advances.
Sir Charles Shults III then joins to explore the promises and perils of nanotechnology. He describes liquid armor that hardens on impact to stop bullets while weighing no more than a thick T-shirt, gold nanoparticles that destroy Alzheimer plaques when activated by radio waves, and ultracapacitors grown from carbon nanotubes that could recharge electric vehicles in minutes. Shults also explains how bacterial nanowires are being used to create revolutionary battery electrodes.
The conversation turns to darker possibilities, including self-replicating disassemblers that could trigger the gray goo scenario, targeted nanoviruses capable of attacking specific genetic markers, and the absence of regulatory oversight governing nanotechnology research. Shults warns that social development has not kept pace with these technological advances.