[LINK] Of nomads and nanotech [Was: 'New mobile phones will double as credit cards']

[David Boxall]

Kim Holburn wrote:
>
> On 2007/Apr/28, at 10:16 AM, Howard Lowndes wrote:
>> Ivan Trundle wrote:
...
>> I notice that my local Telstra Shop (Albury) has an in-store clear 
>> dump bin for discarded mobile phones.
>
> Actually I believe it's the law now that companies selling phones have 
> to take them and the batteries back for "recycling" or "proper 
> disposal" or whatever.
>
An interesting sidelight (pun intended) 
<http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2007/1907341.htm>:
"People also wanted the units to be able to charge up their mobile phones"

The focus of molecular nanotechnology is the manufacture of goods from 
the molecular level.  To me, the more interesting promise is the 
opposite: destruction to that level.  If we could dismantle stuff down 
to individual atoms, it would be much easier to recycle the raw 
materials.  It would be the end of trash.

-- 
David Boxall                    |  When a distinguished but elderly
                                 |  scientist states that something is
                                 |  possible, he is almost certainly
                                 |  right. When he states that
                                 |  something is impossible, he is
                                 |  very probably wrong.
                                                   --Arthur C. Clarke