Episode 1173 · Apr 3, 2005 · 2h 54m
April 3, 2005: Nanotechnology - Charles Ostman
Key Moments
Open transcriptSolar paintnanotech you can buy now: Ostman walks through how organic nano paints and roll-to-roll laminates can turn an ordinary house surface into a solar collector capable of producing thousands of watts at a fraction of silicon's cost.
Nano batteries that may last foreverPressed for specifics, Ostman says nano-engineered batteries could be recharged many more times, hold charge longer, and not degrade - potentially lasting forever depending on use.
Gray goo and Bill Joy's warningArt raises the gray goo scenario and Bill Joy's Wired essay; Ostman concedes a complete collapse of socioeconomic infrastructure is possible if nanotech gets out of hand, calling it a two-edged sword.
Nanomedicinedendrimers and the FDA's classification problem: Ostman, who testified to the FDA on this, explains how dendrimers can be coated to target cancer cells or aneurysms - and the regulator can't decide if they're a drug or a machine. One U.S. company moved trials to Australia.
Was AIDS engineered? Ostman won't rule it outA caller asks if AIDS was manufactured to target a specific race. Ostman, citing biowarfare research history, says he has no specific evidence but 'wouldn't rule it out,' and warns that what could be done now is much more potent.
Ostman explains that nanotechnology involves the precise manipulation of matter at the molecular scale, drawing inspiration from natural cellular processes. He details several emerging applications: solar paint and roll-to-roll manufactured photovoltaic materials that can convert sunlight into electricity at drastically lower costs than silicon, carbon nanofiber composites that could produce lighter and stronger vehicles, nanoscale lubricants that reduce engine friction, and advanced battery technologies with higher charge density and longer lifespans. He also describes smart windows that shift from opaque to transparent in milliseconds and military fabrics that harden on bullet impact.
Art connects nanotechnology to the energy crisis, asking whether these innovations can arrive quickly enough to offset declining oil supplies. Ostman argues that progress will come as a mosaic of solutions rather than a single replacement, with private sector innovation and patent protections driving the pace of development.
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