Bloodshot bump.
Surely the prophet - a piece of him be on you - must have condemned this devil technology.
I think a far more realistic solution to the potable water problem was devised by Mitch Kapor - it was powered by something most people don't even know about - the Stirling engine.
Pretty small ... I guess that's why the article didn't include a picture. Or, maybe it did and I just couldn't see it.
I read a cia report that basically said nano tech, while having plenty of good uses, will also be a major national as well as a human threat in the wrong hands in the coming years. It will someday be possible to create nanobots that can totally attack and ruin a countrys infrastructure or, more frighteningly, attack/kill anyone with a specific dna; killing off a specific race of people or anyone with blue eyes, for example.
The problem isn't growing the food or securing good water. The problem is distribution. If the dictators of Zimbabwe, North Korea, Cuba, and so on are removed from the picture, food and water will make it to those who need it. And at some point those people will be able to provide for themselves (again).
Zimbabwe is the perfect example -- the "Breadbasket of Africa" turning into "Hell on Earth" because of a sick culture embodied in one man, Mugabe.
Now that is just about the dumbest phrase I've heard all week. These morons think it's only the right magic we're missing. Nothing ever requires work, or responsibility, or action, or direction, or helping each other over the wall, or consistent values, etc. etc...
a little magic will do.... Poof! poverty is eradicated....
::sigh:: no wonder Bill Clinton was elected twice.... makes me seriously consider whether allowing everyone to "vote" is such a good idea after all.....