July 24, 2004: Nanomaterials - Dr. Bart Kosko

Professor Bart Kosko, an electrical engineering expert from USC, explores the revolutionary potential and terrifying implications of nanotechnology. Kosko explains how nanomaterials operate at the molecular level, creating possibilities that sound like science fiction but are rapidly becoming reality. He discusses current applications in computer chip manufacturing and the exponential growth in nanotechnology patents, with over 8,000 filed in recent years. The conversation delves into military applications, including self-destructing weapons systems and microscopic devices capable of dismantling aircraft carriers at the molecular level. Kosko addresses concerns about nanotechnology's potential for creating ethnically targeted biological weapons while acknowledging the difficulty of such applications. He explores how nanotubes and other nanomaterials could revolutionize everything from body armor to computer processing power. The discussion touches on the philosophical implications of technology that could grant near-omniscience and the economic disruption that nanotechnology might cause across traditional industries.