Nanotechnology - "Salvation of mankind" with security risks?  Cover Image

Nanotechnologie - „spása lidstva" s bezpečnostními riziky?
Nanotechnology - "Salvation of mankind" with security risks?

Author(s): Miroslav Tůma
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: International security; defence policy/security policy; weapons of mass destruction; key technology; nanotechnology; military research and development; security risks.

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to provide readers with general information on nanotechnol-ogy and possibilities of its use, as well as to refer to some of its relevant security risks. The author currently mentions claims of some scientists and NGOs warning against possible misuse of nan-otechnology due to the insufficient control over the research and the application. So far, less antic-ipated consequences of nanotechnology, converging with genetics, robotics, informatics and cogni-tive science, on all branches of the economy and social and other relations require that sufficient information.should be given not only to the Czech experts but to general society as well. The real threat of the misuse of nanotechnology towards the research, development and the production of the new types of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and other security risks increase that need. In spite of the long-term knowledge of nanotechnology, the possibilities of its use in a revolu-tionary way increased from 80th of the last century. It was due to the new types of microscopes en-abling for the first time precise manipulation of the nano-scale particles. Results of nanoscale ex-ploration are more and more visible e.g. in various consumer products and according to the views of some scientific circles we could witness dramatic transformation of the economy in the near fu-ture. The article points out the rapid increase of spending on basic nanoscience research, growing number of governmental, private and multinational corporations and various national nano-initia-tives dealing with this kind of research and development, accepted mainly in the high-industrialized countries.

  • Issue Year: 39/2004
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 36-48
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Czech