April 18, 2003: Programmable Matter - Wil McCarthy

Science fiction author and technology expert Wil McCarthy explores the revolutionary concept of programmable matter and its potential to transform our world. As a former chief technology officer for an aerospace research corporation and contributing editor for Wired Magazine, McCarthy discusses how programmable matter involves creating materials that can change their properties on command using only electrons, with no moving parts required. The conversation covers the practical applications currently being developed by leading technology companies, from self-assembling structures to materials that can alter their shape, density, and functionality at the molecular level. McCarthy draws from his latest novel "The Wellstone" to illustrate how this technology might evolve, while addressing both the incredible possibilities and potential dark sides of matter that can be programmed and reprogrammed. Art and his guest examine how this emerging field could revolutionize manufacturing, construction, and even space exploration within the coming decades.