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A novel threat to high technology
#3
This was explored by Larry Niven, he proposed a bacteria capable of digesting superconductors (or something like that) and it caused the fall of a civilisation. As for the real life risk I'd place it at low. Bacteria are limited by the chemistry of what they could potentially break down, the chemical synthesis and degradation of carbon nanotubes is quit high energy so is unlikely to just evolve. But say something did evolve that started breaking down an aspect of our technology: we would just kill it, with ease. Bacterial infections are difficult to treat because you don't want to hurt the patient, hence why we use antibiotics which are getting less useful with time. But if push came to shove we could just dump all sorts of harmful chemicals on the afflicted tech.
OA Wish list:
  1. DNI
  2. Internal medical system
  3. A dormbot, because domestic chores suck!
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Messages In This Thread
RE: A novel threat to high technology - by Dalex - 06-07-2015, 05:53 PM
RE: A novel threat to high technology - by Rynn - 06-07-2015, 08:53 PM
RE: A novel threat to high technology - by Cray - 06-11-2015, 02:51 AM
RE: A novel threat to high technology - by Rynn - 06-09-2015, 05:50 PM

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