The Uses of Nanotechnoloy in the Military
Throughout history, new technology has meant the death of many in war. The use of chemical warfare in World War One caused hundreds of thousands of casualties, and the development of nuclear weapons in World War Two killed over a hundred thousand people. Nanotechnology and molecular manufacturing offers the possibility of horribly effective weaponry.
Timmy and the Nanobombs
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How Would the Military Use Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology can be used in many different areas by the military. It could be used to make incredibly cheap jet planes, submarines and hand weapons. It could be used to make improved clothing that could be used in extreme environments and also be used as another layer of armour. It can also be used to develop clothing that makes the wearer 'invisible'. It could increase the range of surveillance make cameras smaller and less detectable. It could also be used to augment human performance and abilities. It could be used to make coating that does not wear and need replacing. But its main use would be to make weaponry stronger, thinner, lighter and cheaper.
A big risk is that nanotechnology could make an effective weapon of mass destruction since, at the moment, there is no quick and efficient way of detecting and stopping things at the nano level. So there could be a nanoweapon that wouldn’t even be known of until it is used. It would be also be easy to transport as a weapon just be the size of a suitcase could contain enough power to wipe out everyone on the planet, and could be carried around with ease.
Who Would the Military's Use of Nanotechnology Impact?
If the military starts making nano weapons, there could be an incredibly dangerous and unstable arms race that would affect the world. Because it is so dangerous, the use of nanotechnology could eventuate in MAD (Mutually assured destruction), and all countries involved would perish. This arms race could affect the environment and the economy from the demand for materials and release of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere. This could also effect innocents, as a country deciding to use these powerful nanotech weapons would have a similar effect as a country releasing a nuclear bomb, whole countries colud end up destroyed as a result of ther use of nanotechnology by the military.