Robotic Plants

Plants with leaves no more efficient than today’s solar cells could out-compete real plants, crowding the biosphere with an inedible foliage. Tough omnivorous bacteria could out-compete real bacteria: They could spread like blowing pollen, replicate swiftly and reduce the biosphere to dust in a matter of days. Dangerous replicators could easily be too tough, small and rapidly spreading to stop — at least if we make no preparation. We have trouble enough controlling viruses and fruit flies.

~ Eric Drexler (1955-04-25 age:63) Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology