OutputConditions of Attendance Grey Goo

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Output/Conditions of Attendance/Grey Goo
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Precautionary Principle

• When an activity raises threats of harm to human
  health or the environment, precautionary measures
  should be taken even if some cause and effect
  relationships are not fully established
  scientifically
• In short, lack of science should never be used as
  an excuse for tacking reasonable precautions
  against possible disaster
• In current laws assume the reverse when
  scientific evidence is lacking, people should be
  free to act as they wish, Eg. Smoking, drug and
  chemical certification

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Implications of Precautionary Principle

• The precautionary principle stipulates that for
  practices such as the release of radiation or
  toxins, etc., the burden of proof of safety lies
  with the advocates
• Concerning potential risks to public health,
  examples of cases in which the precautionary
  principle has been advocated are the
  commercialization of genetically modified foods,
  the use of growth hormones in cattle raising,
  measures to prevent the "mad cow" disease, health
  claims linked to phthalates in PVC toys, among
  many others

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Nanotechnology

• Refers broadly to a field of applied science and
  technology whose unifying theme is the control of
  matter on the atomic and molecular scale,
  normally 1 to 100 nanometers, and the fabrication
  of devices with critical dimensions that lie
  within that size range
• Egs. polymers based on molecular structure,
  suntan lotion, cosmetics, protective coatings,
  drug delivery, and stain resistant clothing

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Grey Goo Disaster

• Grey goo is a hypothetical end-of-the-world
  scenario involving molecular nanotechnology in
  which out-of-control self-replicating robots
  consume all living matter on Earth while building
  more of themselves
• Also can refer to a more general problem of the
  irreversibility of the recall/removal from
  natural system of micro-engineered materials or
  organisms

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Reasons for Concern Declining Sperm Count
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Reasons for Concern Rising Childhood Cancer
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Rising Autism Rates