Re: Nanotechnology Of Mind Over Matter Pdf 24
Demi Kemmeries
Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100 is a 2011 book by theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, author of Hyperspace and Physics of the Impossible. In it Kaku speculates about possible future technological development over the next 100 years. He interviews notable scientists about their fields of research and lays out his vision of coming developments in medicine, computing, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and energy production. The book was on the New York Times Bestseller List for five weeks.[1]
The flow of materials in the global economy crosses many borders, including those of developing nations (Salamanca-Buentello et al. 2005). Thus, to assure the safety and health of workers, decision makers (whether they are employers or government authorities) must know and understand what materials are used in various processes and operations. This issue is complicated because many different definitions and descriptions may be used in science-based and regulation-based documents. To develop nanotechnology with minimal risks, knowledge gaps must be identified and addressed through international cooperation. Also needed is a transparent risk assessment framework that can achieve wide acceptability (SCENIHR 2005).
But despite these fundamental advances, nanotechnology is confronted with a critical bottleneck. We are still struggling to translate the fundamental advances reported in the scientific literature into tangible technological applications that can be appreciated at the layman's level. The problem is twofold. First, the properties of matter change when scaled up, just like they change when scaled down to the nanoscale; in particular, the level of control that can be exerted at the nanoscale or at the single-object level tends to wane at the meso- and macroscales or when dealing with a large number of objects. And second, industry is reluctant to invest money in developing new large-scale processes for nanomaterial fabrication unless they are guaranteed a sizeable profitable return.
"The genius of nanotechnology is the reduction of space. Smaller is infinitely more powerful ... Today, scientists recognize that less matter and less space, not more, equals more raw power." And the closer scientists look, "the more they realize that it's not about physical matter at all, but about energy."
Some who sound warning bells against nanotechnology play on this. Jim Thomas, of the anti-nanotech group ETC Group, wrote: "It all adds up to a little Bang (Bits, Atoms, Neurons, Genes) theory enabling a godlike level of control over knowledge, matter, mind and life. But who gets to be master of the universe?"
Depending on your preconceived notions, the concepts inherent in nanotechnology can be manipulated into any worldview you'd like. This idea of "convergence," though, was very much on the minds of the early Kabbalists, who also integrated other religious concepts -- from the Greeks and Buddhists -- into this soup.
Just what New Age crystal-wielding, red-string-knotting nut wrote that? It was R. Buckminster Fuller, the inventor of the geodesic dome and an icon of the nanotechnology revolution. When nanoscientist Richard Smalley and his team discovered the miracle molecule C60 -- 60 carbon atoms all perfectly patched together like a soccer ball -- they named the thing buckminsterfullerene (aka buckyball) in honor of Fuller. To nanotechnologists, this is not just a symbolic homage. The buckyball holds such wonderful possibilities because of its perfect shape -- the way its curvature places strain not on any one point of the structure, but spreads it around, each bend and curve supporting the other equally. That's what gives the buckyball its great strength.
A brief characterization of some of the basic ideas regarding the universe of nature in the cosmology of medieval alchemy reveals a system of thought in which the world was understood as a continuous organic and unitary world order in which differences between phenomena were merely a question of superficial appearances rather than reflecting any substantial discontinuities pertaining to matter itself (Boholm 1992). The primum mobile of the physical universe could be represented as a process of cyclic generation, an endless progression of creation and corruption, identified as a process of organic life revolving around conception, birth, growth, ageing and death. Furthermore, nature was not understood as just a physical world of causes and effects; it was seen as spiritual and animated. The four elements, as well as animals, plants, gems and planets, not only had certain physical properties but, more importantly, were regarded as bearers of moral and spiritual virtue. The universe was depicted as a unitary organic system in which phenomena were related in occult ways. Consequently, since seemingly disparate phenomena were understood to be effectively related and to exert an influence over each other, a dominant aim in medieval scholarship was to discern far-reaching links of association and cross-reference (Thorndike 1927, Vols. 2-3).
Over the coming years, nanotechnology will invade our everyday lives. Nanotechnology, usually defined as the control and manipulation of matter at the nanoscale, will be incorporated in anything from windshields to cancer drugs, and from sun lotion to batteries. But what exactly is this technology that encroaches upon our daily activities?
Whoever expects this fancy technology to be portrayed with images of steam, steel and machinery is sure to be disappointed. Instead, nano-image competitions are frequently won by images of landscapes, animals and particularly flowers. Rather than stressing the technological achievement of controlling matter at the nano-scale, nanotechnology is portrayed in terms of nature.
It is not only about a paradigm shift. It is about a much more profound kind of shift, one that alters dramatically our ideas, our values, our bodies, our perceptions, everything and every aspect of human life. In these times of transition, we must try to bridge the gap between disciplines, find a common language that fosters cooperation, and most importantly, open our minds to fresh and daring perspectives. As we do so, trying to catch up with the overwhelming speed of the winds of change, hopefully we will contribute to a better understanding of the challenges that lie ahead.
NBIC convergence requires, and is made possible by, the radically new capabilities to understand and to manipulate matter that are associated with nanoscience and nanotechnology. The integration of technology will be based on the unity of nature at the nanoscale, as well as an information system that would cross disciplines and fields of relevance. (Bainbridge & Roco 2006, p.2).
Unity of matter through NBIC makes possible the integration of biological and neural systems to artificial systems, including systems of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The unity of matter at the nanoscale makes possible the systemic integration between biological and non-biological entities; in order to perform a task or to enhance a human capacity, for example. Future prospects are overwhelming. These prospects are not solely related to enhancing the human species biologically. They include the enhancement of human cognitive states as well. Organism becomes artifact, and artifact becomes organism:
An example of this kind of matter/mind hybrid interface which is emerging as a result of NBIC convergence is the research currently being done on Biologically-Inspired Robotic Cellular Architectures (Bernstein et al., 2006, p.134-135). Through the mapping of the neural circuits within the brain, nano artifacts are being produced that simulate the behavior of a neuron, being able to interact with and be integrated to systems of cells. In this case, the neurons are those on the visual cortex, specifically those responsible for image-formation. Nano devices are being developed that could interfere directly with image-formation within the brain.
Consciousness remains grounded and limited to a biological platform; however, cognitive nano applications have the potential to artificially enhance and alter conscious states. Given the fact that these nano agents are endowed with artificial degrees of intelligence, a principle of hybridization is directly established between mental processes and artificial intelligence. This hybrid interface would simultaneously pervade mind and matter.
The interface between matter and mind has data, information and meaning as its main elements. Mind only achieves knowledge (meaning) through the processing of information, information only gets to mind through perception, and perception interprets data in order to deliver information to the mind. As we can observe in Niteckis (1993) elucidative representation on Fig. 01, what connects matter to mind is a continuous flow of data, information and knowledge (meaning):
The flow of information, being intrinsically connected to the flow of knowledge, still is not responsible for it. So while information is intrinsic to intelligence it does not account for intelligence. While meaning is always achieved through information, it is not reducible to information. The concept of infosphere does not encompass the dimension of meaning. Theories of information, however useful to the study of information processes, are not sufficient to the study of meaning. Having thus recognized the limitations of mathematical theories of information such as Shannons, and also of philosophy of information in the analysis of hybrid cognitive interfaces between mind and matter, we move on to exploring wider theoretical perspectives.
Dr. Baras has established and leads several foundational genomics collaborations, including one with Geisinger Health System to sequence at least 250,000 participants and another with the UK Biobank to sequence 500,000 participants. RGC research has identified new drug targets, validated existing development programs, and contributed new gene discoveries and precision medicine strategies. RGC has sequenced more than 300,000 individuals to date, collaborating with more than 60 institutions worldwide, and plans to sequence the exomes of millions of participants across its studies. Previously, Dr. Baras held roles and responsibilities at Regeneron across R&D and business development. Before joining Regeneron, Dr. Baras contributed to other biotechnology ventures and conducted research spanning antibody-based therapeutics, cancer research, and nanotechnology applications in drug development. Dr. Baras received his B.S. degree in biology and economics, his M.D., and his MBA degrees all from Duke University.
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