What we refer to as 'death' is just a set of symptoms that have proven resistant to treatment.
Ralph MerkleDisease and ill health are caused largely by damage at the molecular and cellular level, yet todays surgical tools are too large to deal with that kind of problem.
Ralph MerkleOne of the concepts essential to molecular manufacturing is that of a self-replicating manufacturing system. That concept has lagged behind in its acceptance.
Ralph MerkleThe first approximation in this future that we're looking at is that everyone will be physically well off. They will have a great abundance in material goods, and as a consequence, I think that will soften some of the conflicts we see now.
Ralph MerkleThere are certain things that are inherently scarce. For example, there is only a certain amount of beachfront property in California. It is going to be scarce, it is going to be expensive.
Ralph MerkleOne of the things that we can say with confidence is that we will have much lighter, much stronger materials, and this will reduce the cost of air flight, and it will reduce the cost of rockets.
Ralph MerkleThe new technologies that we see coming will have major benefits that will greatly alleviate human suffering.
Ralph MerkleAs in any technological revolution, there will be winners and losers. On balance, everyone will come out ahead, although there will be particular companies that will not be able to cope with a new environment.
Ralph MerkleMachines built by human beings they will function correctly if we provide them with a very specific environment. But if that environment is changed they won't function at all.
Ralph MerkleBecause of technological limits, there is a certain amount of food that we can produce per acre. If we were to have intensive greenhouse agriculture, we could have much higher production.
Ralph Merkle