3 ms·
Sure there is. The second law of thermodynamics (which I am assuming you are referring to) only applies to an isolated system and describes its tendency toward
by sourkremlin 13y ago
Sure there is. The second law of thermodynamics (which I am assuming you are referring to) only applies to an isolated system and describes its tendency toward thermal equilibrium -- it doesn't apply when you are able to add energy to the system.
Am I misunderstanding you?
- gaius 13y agoSimply that nanotech can accomplish miracles. You have to power your nanobots somehow, and you have to dump the heat they create by doing work.
- maxerickson 13y agoIf you harvest solar energy you can do a whole lot of work without worrying about any new heat. Harvesting a tiny fraction of the total solar energy available (on Earth) would look an awful lot like a miracle.
- khafra 13y agoHe's not talking about climate change; he's talking about heat sinks so your nanobots don't literally vibrate themselves apart before doing anything useful.
- Crito 13y agoSo why is that a big deal? There are trillions of nano-machines being powered and dumping their waste heat in you right now. Or rather, they are you.
- gaius 13y agoSure, and when they work hard, it can kill you (that's what a fever is). So how can you do healing better than the body can? Where does the power come from, and where does the heat go?
- chm 13y agoYou're then both saying the same thing. S has to go up somewhere.
- dredmorbius 13y agoOpen systems still obey thermodynamics, it's just that there's an energy flux (and an entropy gradient). Look up Ilya Prigogine, self-organizing systems, and dissipative systems. Humans and their societies (and other artifacts) are one such.