Comprehensive energy policies

A former secretary of the UK cabinet discusses the need and shift to more comprehensive energy policies that take into account all costs A good modified market energy portfolio should take into account the volatility of the availability and price of different fuels. Natural gas, as the world has witnessed, can fluctuate enormously. In the …

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French physicist critiques gate model quantum computers

From New Scientist, an article reporting that Michael Dyakonov of the University of Montpellier in France believes large scale quantum computing is akin to achieving perpetual motion. The pdf of the paper is here He is referring to gate model quantum computers with 1000 to 1,000,000 qubits. Others think Dyakonov has got it wrong. “It …

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Military nanotechnology book

Jürgen Altmann has written a book “Military Nanotechnology: Potential Applications and Preventive Arms Control” which has an abstract at this link. From the abstract:Military R&D of NT is beginning to expand, with the USA far in the lead. Arguments for such R&D stress the increased military capabilities expected from NT; risks from military applications – …

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Eric Drexler comments on first NNI report on Molecular Manufacturing

From Eric Drexler’s website (e-drexler.com), is Eric’s comment on the first report from the National Academies Molecular Manufacturing. (pdf through link) I had previously commented in Sept, 2006 about the release of the NNI report Eric Drexler’s Comment on the report In its conclusion, the committee notes that it is difficult to analyze complex systems …

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Superconducting quantum computer update

Dwave systems has decided to push back the demo of their superconducting quantum computer until sometime in Q1/2007. The CTO does claim that In the almost 8 years since we started D-Wave I’ve only celebrated once (last week [Nov 20-26, 2006]), when the whole system was working beginning to end. The new programming environment includes …

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Colonizing space going slower and closer

Stephen Hawking told a BBC radio audience that if the human race were to survive, it would be necessary to go to another star. Hawking talked about using antimatter powered spaceships to go at about 86% of light speed. This is the second part of my analysis. In the first part, I talked about going …

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