nano-nanu (or when is it really starting?)Follow

Well, maybe I’m not taking the world of the tiny seriously enough. While Drexler’s vision of a nano future (nano robots that move around and even reproduce) so far doesn’t even make good science fiction (I ain’t scared of no grey goo), apparently it has also overshadowed “real” nano-technology in the public imagination.

What I’ve been reading lately suggests that the real and soon-to-arrive (er already arrived) nano world will be one much more like the chemical and bio-chemical revolution of the last century. In fact, people say that almost any country can compete because, unlike other hi-tech stuff that requires huge infrastructure and expensive machines, nano can be made with a few beakers and a couple hundred bucks worth of chemicals (why is the first image I get, hearing that, one of Al'Qaeda madmen in some mud hut playing with test tubes?).

What kind of nano is this? Nano shields that keep our pants from getting stained. Crazy? No, already exists – you can already buy these. Nano particles in sunscreen and other gels. So yeah, the cork’s already out of the bottle. Here comes the brave new nano world. Yeah, strap in. We're taking off....

Before you get too overburdened by ennui, where were you when the Internet bubble started? Could you see it coming? I remember when Amazon.com went public. I laughed at it. It took me a while to realize that the bubble of the 90s was big and was going to last (at least a while) – at least I did make some money off it (should have made millions – gah – but hindsight is 20/20).

So, I think it’s fairly safe to assume that at some point nano is going to become a major part of the consumer product market. Not major, HUGE. Or bigger. The question is: when? Right now might be a bad time to invest, because it’s early and rocky – and most early efforts will fail. But a point will be reached where “critical mass” is achieved, and the nano bubble will take off.

Or will it be a nano bubble? “Plastics!” was the rallying cry of fifty years ago. While the internet suffered from “okay, I get it – more bandwidth – but what are you going to put on it (only so much **** can be sold – oh, and mmo – sorry, yeah… mmo),” nano seems not to be limited.

Like plastics applied to everything, nano will apply to everything.

Of course nano might have drawbacks. Just as the explosion of chemical knowledge led to all sorts of nasty pollution (and DDT), people are already finding that Buckyballs are possibly toxic (they caused largemouth bass to have brain problems – I never knew largemouth bass had brains… some sites pooh-pooh the methodology of this study – think it’s still waiting peer review). Anyway, Murphy’s Law states that there has to be some “bad” fallout to some change as big as nano.

This includes toxic particles, terrorists making dirty-nano-bombs (PHEAR MY MOLECULES!), etc.

Well, I’m willing to discuss possible downsides to nano, but the main idea of this thread, as stated, is: when is the big thing going to take off? After all, we can’t stop it. And if I’m going to have to spend the rest of my life swamped in nano, I’d at least like to have become rich off it. Shallow me? Maybe, sure – why not? If I’m living well, I don’t care what anyone says about me.

So, any thoughts on the upcoming nano revolution and what signs might mark good times to jump aboard as an investor (I want to make a smart guess as to when the curve will upturn sharply)?


Edited, Mon May 29 14:41:22 2006 by EvilGnomes

I doubt you mean this winter... so... what is a wint?

Yes. I've been gone from here for a long time.

Since the infamous "there is 20 pounds of undigested meat impacted on my colon, so I'm going to blow it out - and so should you" post... forgot who did that one - but I've been gone a long time.

I think the proper reply is "Who the hell is Wint?"

Ok, so you inspired me to try and find a video of the SNL Colon Blow sketch, but you know what is a really terrible idea? Typing "Colon" into google video. Yeah, don't do it.

Nexa

How had I forgotten it was Phil Hartman...*sigh*...I miss him.

Nexa

Who are you?Indeed The greats always pass too quickly and unfortunately, burn themselves out more then not (Chris Farley) [:mourn:] - and then ya start feeling old.