Prince Asks Scientists To Look Into "Grey Goo"

Daily Telegraph ^ | 5/06/2003 | Roger Highfield

[white rose]

Fears by the Prince of Wales that armies of microscopic robots could turn the face of the planet into an uninhabitable wasteland have prompted the nation's top scientists and engineers to launch an inquiry.

Having attacked GM foods in the past, Prince Charles has more recently turned his attention to nanotechnology, the ability to manipulate matter at scales of billionths of a metre.

Concerned by claims by environmentalists that swarms of rogue "nanomachines" could one day reduce all in their path to "grey goo", the prince has asked the Royal Society to help him to weigh up the risks.

Yesterday, at the Cheltenham Festival of Science, Lord May, president of the Royal Society and former government chief scientist, announced that the Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering are to launch a study into nanotechnology.

But Lord May stressed: "There is nothing inherently sinister about nanoscience or nanotechnology, it just refers to the study of things on the scale of one-millionth of a millimetre."

He said the prince should be reassured that the "grey goo" scenario, which is raised by various sources, notably Michael Crichton's book Prey, is even less likely to come true than cloning dinosaurs.

"The nightmare scenario of self-replicating nanobots destroying everything is about as likely to come true as Jurassic Park, another product of Michael Crichton's fertile imagination," said Lord May.

Fearful of the same polarised debate developing as with GM, Lord May has decided to launch the inquiry, even though many of the risks are "purely imaginary and conjectured".

Some of the benefits of nanotechnology, such as superior materials and sunscreens, are clear cut "but maybe there are some things we ought to be thinking about".

Prince Charles's fears appear to have been prompted by The Big Down, an extended polemic on the potential evils of nanotechnology, published at the start of this year by an organisation called ETC, a pressure group based in Canada.

This report rages against technological developments for creating extravagant wealth and extreme poverty.

But Lord May said that advances in science and technology have made life better in both the developed and developing worlds.

Lifespans have increased, from a global life expectancy at birth 50 years ago of 46 years, to 64 years today, he said. World food production has doubled over the past 35 years, using only 10 per cent more land.

Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, also spoke at the festival last night, on his new book, Our Final Century, which weighs up current threats to humankind.

Compared with the real threat from nuclear weapons, Sir Martin said that the "grey goo" scenario "might become a concern 50 years from now but is science fiction for the moment".

There will be a session on nanotechnology this Saturday at the festival, which is sponsored by The Daily Telegraph.

[white rose]

And people wonder why I think England needs to become a republic.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Charlie has grey goo between his ample ears.

[Miss Marple]

I don't know about a republic, but they certainly need to seriously consider bypassing Charlie when the Queen passes on. He'd be happier mucking about on his eco-friendly farm with Camilla.

The young guy should be named the heir, and should get some friends who are normal folk. Charles is surrounded by cranks and nutcases.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

What'd you expect from this simple minded fool who has never held a real job ?

[Lee Heggy]

One of Prince Charlies other passions is collecting toilets. He has one of the largest such collections in the world...I suppose everyone needs a place to put their thoughts/ideas into.

[SquirrelKing]

"Pip, pip, lads! I just read this smashing Michael crichton book! You know, the chap who was all about those dinosaurs and whatnot? Well, it got the ol' bean in a whirr..."

[Tax-chick]

Prince Charles is proof the earth is moving closer to the sun.

[Tacis]

No, it's OK. Charlie was watching a Star Trek while his bimbo girl friend was doing him, he got distracted, and thought he was having an original thought. No harm done, you can all go home now.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

This has GOT to be a joke. I didn't think it was possible to lose respect for both royalty AND the evironmentalist movement at the same time. Where did this originally come from, the Onion?

[Tony Niar Brain]

I think the monarchy in England right now serves a great purpose; it reminds the world about the kind of people who end up as the monarchs.

[blackdog]

The next generation in the pipeline in all the "enlightened" countries of the world should be a real doozie. The havock that they will inflict upon our world should be signifigant.

Chelsea Clinton, the Prince's, Bill Gates offspring, Warren Buffet's grandkids, and The Donald's proginy should be a real hoot when they take the wheel.

[blackdog]

Tell Charlie not to worry. The gray goo is just Bill Clinton's trail, like an old snail.

[homeschool mama]

**Grey Goo**

Oh. I thought the article was about Grey Davis. ooops.

[NYFriend]

Didn't the Brits pass a law at some point to sepcificly reduce the likelyhood the Prince Charles would speak in pubilc?

[The_Media_never_lie]

If scientists can create these nasty little nanovarmits then surely, they can create some nanonanovarmits to feast upon them.

• Little fleas have tiny fleas
• Upon their backs to bite 'em
• And tiny fleas have tinier fleas
• And so ad infinitum

[Mike Fieschko]

Charlie was watching a Star Trek

I think it was the Doomwatch episode The Plastic Eaters.

[Gorzaloon]

Nanomachines: The Next Dot.Bomb hype?

[Weimdog]

Yes, and also what happens after generations of in-breeding.

[Lee Heggy]

Ah! Merry old England where cousins can marry and watch their children eat crayolas and chase dust motes in the dirty sunlight from palace windows.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Charlie has grey goo between his ample ears.

Nah--"Prince" Charles brain stem terminates at the upper end of his spinal column. The space above that (between the ears) is vacant.