Nanotubes technology

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:05 pm

For those who are not familiar with nanotubes technology, let me explain what I know about it. They are tiny tubes (in the nano scale) that are very strong and light weight, approximtely 10x stronger and 10x lighter than steel, and those tubes can be made into anything from your computer circuits to an entire city, and they even repair themselves if a breakage should happen.

Although this technology is still in its enfancy, it will be developed in its full capacity in the near future. NASA is already working on a spaceship that will repair itself if anything should happen to it in a long voyage, re.(Super spaceships NASA science) there will be no need for astronauts to suit up to make the repairs themselves because they'll probably be asleep for the duration of the voyage.

I'm sure that there will be 3 scenarios with this technology, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

THE GOOD= Things that could last forever, like cars, tv's, computers (except for the upgrades Laughing

), etc... Also entire cities that are self sustained, meaning no more workers repairing the infrastructures. Imagine that there would be no more long traffic snarls because of road repairs that last for ages. Very Happy

THE BAD= There would be a downside to those good things though, it would created high unemployment because no workers would not be needed anymore, whether in the manufacturing business to maintenance of cities. The rich would get even richer and the poor would suffer even more, also the middle class would be extinct.

THE UGLY= The militairies will rejoyce over this technology by developing weapons that are practically undestructable. Imagine tanks, ships and planes that would repair themselves if attacked, soldiers that are covered from head to toe in a lightweight body armor that is stronger than steel, it would make them like 'Ironman' and wars could last forever.

What are your opinions on this suject. Do you thing that this technology should be developed and used to its full capacity or not?

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:18 pm

carbon nanotubes are kewl, and manufacturing them with consistency is becoming more understood.
the other issues have to do with the maturity of humans as a species.
Unfortunately natural selection has wired us to be competitive to allow the cream of the crop to reproduce at a greater rate.
we have culturally based behaviours that are not subject to natural selection, so we could change that but competition has to be redirected to be less destructive, such as producing excellence rather than reducing the less competitive.
the biggest problem is the infatuation with material gain, and rating ones self worth based on the extent of resource accumulation, and that is the evil of capitolism.
then there is idealogical intolerance.
i think another round of deselection is needed to eliminate the pathologically competitive and retain the goal oriented cooperative elements of the species

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:30 pm

So it is my understanding Lord Garth that we have to get rid of evil and greed before good things could be used. I don't think that will happen at anytime in the near future.

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:55 pm

things are not good or evil they simply are. evil and greed have to go so that things will no longer be used for evil or greedy goals.

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 6:47 pm

I agree with you, but what scares me is that evil and greed in mankind will still prevail long after the nanotubes become fully operational and part of our daily lives.

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:08 pm

idk man...I would love my big brother to be in a tank that will protect his life better than the one he is in now when he is sitting on the border making sure peeps are safe here

and i would love a bulletproff lightweight body armor as well.

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 4:53 am

These Nanotubes do sound cool, and Lord Garth has summed it up perfectly. Man's lust for power and money has always led our technology to less than admirable pursuits. Hopefully these do not outweigh the many good uses such technology can be put to.

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:37 am

armour and macro scale materials technology are one aspect of the nanotube.
they have interesting electromechanical properties as well such as motion when exposed to electrical charge, and charging when exposed to mechanical deformation

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:17 pm

gtpost wrote:

and they even repair themselves if a breakage should happen.

Wtf? I'm gonna have to look this stuff up and see how it works...

gtpost wrote:

THE GOOD= Things that could last forever......entire cities that are self sustained

I don't know if you could consider this a good thing. What about when demolition needs to happen? For example, one business buys out another and wants to "redecorate." Are these destructible? (Forgive me, I haven't taken the time to do research on this yet. These are just off the top of my head questions from what your post described.)

gtpost wrote:

THE BAD= There would be a downside to those good things though, it would created high unemployment because no workers would not be needed anymore, whether in the manufacturing business to maintenance of cities

There could be employment for creating the nanotubes. How much employment isn't sure, but there could be a possibility that it could be an equal exchange.

gtpost wrote:

wars could last forever.

Already do. :/

I don't mean to pick apart everything you say.....but this IS the debate section. Very Happy

LORD! GARTH! wrote:

so we could change that but competition has to be redirected to be less destructive, such as producing excellence rather than reducing the less competitive. the biggest problem is the infatuation with material gain, and rating ones self worth based on the extent of resource accumulation, and that is the evil of capitalism.

Quoted for truth

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:58 am

depending on how deeply you want to understand it could take a while.
it is a ride that will take you into the world of quantum chemistry