The "Library of Congress in a sugar cube" is one of my favorite cliches of nanotechnology hype. Yesterday, Alex Pang, my Institute For The Future colleague, and I were goofing on this meme over IM. We came up with a series of newspaper headlines detailing how the scenario might play out. Alex posted the riff at the Institute For The Future's Future Now blog. From the post:
The Clinton administration wants to nearly double spending for research on technology that potentially could store the contents of the Library of Congress in a device the size of a sugar cube and revolutionize medicine. (U.S. Government, January 21 2000)
Increased investments in nanotechnology could lead to breakthroughs such as molecular computers that can store the contents of the Library of Congress in a device the size of a sugar cube. (Foresight Institute)
Win the Library of Congress in a sugarcube! Free contest entry with every Soy Frappucino (Starbucks advertisement, July 14 2009)
"New Dark Ages Begin: Starbucks Patron Accidentally Drinks Library of Congress" (New York Times, front page, August 1 2009)
'"They should never have left it near the Splenda,' Says Culprit" (Los Angeles Times, B1, August 2 2009)
"Library of Congress Drinker Disappears: Rumors of Google Involvement" (New York Times, A6, August 19 2009)
UPDATE: Noted nano investor Steve Jurvetson adds this comment and link:
"Google has nanobots on their Master Plan… and grey goo… which is what you get when the Sugar Cube gets a Snow Crash…." Link
