by Andrew Maynard | Jul 26, 2016 | Communication, Emerging Technology, Nanotechnology, Science Communication, Technology Innovation
The latest video from Risk Bites takes a four minute dive into what nanotechnology is, and why it’s important. It was created as a primer for 5th graders – which probably means that there’ll be a lot of 5th graders at heart watching it! It also...
by Andrew Maynard | Jul 23, 2016 | Emerging Technology, Future, Responsible Innovation, Technology Innovation
Elon Musk – CEO of Tesla Motors – has just revealed the second part of his master plan for the company. And it’s a doozy. Not content with producing sleek electric cars (which to be fair, was only ever a stepping stone to greater things), Musk wants to fundamentally...
by Andrew Maynard | Jun 23, 2016 | Emerging Technology, Future, Responsible Innovation, Risk
Take an advanced technology. Add a twist of fantasy. Stir well, and watch the action unfold. It’s the perfect recipe for a Hollywood tech-disaster blockbuster. And clichéd as it is, it’s the scenario that we too often imagine for emerging technologies. Think...
by Andrew Maynard | Mar 29, 2016 | Emerging Technology, Nanotechnology, Public Health, Risk, Technology Innovation
Back in 2008, carbon nanotubes – exceptionally fine tubes made up of carbon atoms – were making headlines. A new study from the U.K. had just shown that, under some conditions, these long, slender fiber-like tubes could cause harm in mice in the same way that some...
by Andrew Maynard | Feb 3, 2016 | Emerging Technology, Public Health, Risk, Synthetic Biology
In just a few short weeks, Zika has shot from being an obscure infection to a headline-hitting public health disaster. The virus is spreading rapidly across the Americas (and potentially beyond), is suspected of being associated with birth defects that affect brain...
by Andrew Maynard | Jan 22, 2016 | Emerging Technology, Future
In 2009, I commissioned ten guest articles on technology innovation from people working for, associated with or generally reflecting the views of Civil Society groups. Over six years on, these essays still present insightful and often challenging views on technology...
