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¢ Microcapsules are similar in size to pollen and may poison bees and/or be taken back to the hives and incorporated in honey. Because of their size, "microencapsulated insecticides are consid- ered more toxic to honey bees than any formulation so far devel- oped."** Will nanocapsules be more lethal? ¢ It is not known how ‘unexploded’ nanocapsules will behave in the human gut if ingested with food. bees and/or be taken back to the hives and incorporated in honey. The idea that thousands of tiny sensors could be scattered like Because of their size, "microencapsulated insecticides are consid- invisible eyes, ears and noses across farm fields and battlefields ered more toxic to honey bees than any formulation so far devel- sounds like science fiction. But ten years ago, Kris Pister, a pro- oped."** Will nanocapsules be more lethal? fessor of Robotics at University of California, Berkeley secured ¢ It is not known how ‘unexploded’ nanocapsules will behave in funding from the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency the human gut if ingested with food. (DARPA) to develop autonomous sensors that would each be the size of a match head. Implications for Nanobioweaponry Using silicon-etching technology, these motes ("smart dust" Nanocapsules and microcapsules make an ideal vehicle for sensors) would feature an onboard power supply, computation delivering chemical and biological abilities and the ability to detect and then weapons because they can carry sub- communicate with other motes in the stances intended to harm humans as vicinity. In this way the individual easily as they can carry substances motes would self-organise into ad hoc intended to kill weeds and pests. By Nanocapsules and computer networks capable of relaying virtue of their small size, DNA microcapsules make an ideal data using wireless (i.e., radio) nanocapsules may be able to enter the . . . technology. body undetected by the immune system vehicle for delivering DARPA's immediate interest in the and then become activated by the cells chemical and biological project was to deploy smart dust own mechanisms to produce toxic com- networks over enemy terrain to feed pounds. The increased bioavailability weapons... back real time news about troop and stability of nano-encapsulated sub- movements, chemical weapons, and stances in the environment may offer other battlefield conditions without advantages to the Gene Giants, but the having to risk soldiers' lives. same features could make them extreme- However, like that other ground- ly potent vehicles for biological warfare. In addition, because of breaking DARPA project, the Internet, it swiftly became clear that their increased bioavailability only a small quantity of the chemi- tiny surveillance systems would have endless civilian uses, from cal is needed. monitoring energy-use in office buildings to tracking goods When programmed for external triggers such as ultrasound or through a supply chain, to environmental data monitoring. magnetic frequencies, activation can be controlled remotely, sug- Today, wireless micro and nanosensors like the ones pioneered gesting a number of grim scenarios. Could agrochemical/seed by Kris Pister are an area of intense research for large corpora- corporations remotely activate triggers to cause crop failure if the tions from Intel to Hitachi, a focus of development at all US farmer infringes the company's patent or fails to follow prescribed national defence laboratories, and in fields as wide apart as medi- production practices? cine, energy and communications. Touted by The Economist, Red What if nanocapsules containing a potent compound are added ~——- Herring and Technology Review as the ‘next big thing’, ubiquitous to a regional water supply by a foreign wireless sensors embedded in everything aggressor or terrorist group? from the clothes we wear to the land- According to The Sunshine Project, scapes we move through could funda- the "Australia Group" (a group of 24 mentally alter the way we relate to industrialised nations) recently pro- When programmed for everyday goods, services, the environ- eons be ‘oda! eomenoa lit of external triggers such as the aim to develop what researches technologies banned from export to ultrasound or magnetic call ‘ambient intelligence'—smart envi- ‘untrustworthy’ ts for fear of H H H ts that use sensors and artificial use as bioweapons."” Documents | MequeNcies, activation CaN FE ticence to predict the needs of indi obtained by Sunshine Project also show be controlled remotely... viduals and respond accordingly: that the US military funded the offices that adjust light and heating lev- University of New Hampshire in 1999- els throughout the day or clothes that 2000 to develop microcapsules contain- alter their colours or warmth depending ing corrosive and anaesthetic (that is, to on the external environment. produce unconsciousness) chemicals. A simple example of ambient intelligence already in use is an The documents describe how the microcapsules could be fired airbag system in newer cars, which "senses" an imminent crash at a crowd, corrode protective gear and then break open in contact and deploys a pillow to soften the blow to the driver. with the moisture on human skin.* Kris Pister's dust motes are currently far from nano (they are roughly coin-sized), but they have already been licensed to com- From Smart Dust to Smart Fields mercial companies. In 2003 Pister established a "smart dust" "Precision farming," also known as site-specific management, spin-off company, Dust, Inc. For a light taster of a society describes a bundle of new information technologies applied to the steeped in ambient intelligence, Kris Pister makes the following management of large-scale, commercial agriculture. Precision speculations:” farming technologies include, for example: personal computers, * "In 2010 a speck of dust on each of your fingernails will con- satellite-positioning systems, geographic information systems, tinuously transmit fingertip motion to your computer. Your com- automated machine guidance, remote sensing devices and puter will understand when you type, point, click, gesture, sculpt, telecommunications. or play air guitar. Nanocapsules and microcapsules make an ideal vehicle for delivering chemical and biological weapons... When programmed for external triggers such as ultrasound or magnetic frequencies, activation can be controlled remotely... From Smart Dust to Smart Fields "Precision farming," also known as site-specific management, describes a bundle of new information technologies applied to the management of large-scale, commercial agriculture. Precision farming technologies include, for example: personal computers, satellite-positioning systems, geographic information systems, automated machine guidance, remote sensing devices and telecommunications. 14 = NEXUS JUNE — JULY 2005 "Smart Dust" and "Ambient Intelligence" www.nexusmagazine.com