In nanotechnology there exists a world of possibility but also of potential threat. Not even the experts know of the environmental or health effects of nanoparticles. For example, it has been noted that concretions of carbon nanotubes, something they tend to do, resemble the microscopic structure of asbestos with its known carcinogenic tendency. The fact that nanoparticles penetrate the human body, even the brain, is a known fact. How damaging this could be is totally unknown.
The second threat of nanotechnology is based on its immediate commercial success. In a very real sense, no one is guarding the multibillion-dollar R&D hen house. There is no oversight, like there had been with recombinant DNA research, on the potential negative impact of nanoparticles. Nanotechnology research is being done in thousands of private laboratories, each racing ahead willy-nilly to be the first to secure valuable patents in a competitive environment where secrecy is paramount and the risks are minimized or ignored.
PROLOGUE
CARTER LAKE LOOP, BOULDER, COLORADO
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013, 8:28 A.M.
The cyclist decided to go for a relaxing ride—the real training would resume on Tuesday, after he underwent more medical tests. The trainers had said it was okay for him to take his bike out to work off some of the stiffness he had built up the previous day, but insisted he shouldn’t push himself too hard. They had also made sure he was wearing the usual sensors for heart rate, breathing rate, and oxygen partial pressure, as well as the GPS device so that he could be appropriately monitored.
The route he was provided went north of Boulder to Carter Lake and back. The total trip was more than seventy-five miles, but there wasn’t much change in elevation along the way. If he and the others expected to compete at the level intended, they would have to be able to cycle seventy-five miles of predominantly flat terrain without breaking a sweat.
After a few miles, the cyclist felt bored and restless. He knew he was supposed to take it easy, but his body felt so good, it was as if he were flying over the pavement. His legs were stronger than they’d ever been, and not only was he not out of breath, his breathing was shallow and easy like he was strolling in a park. It was a lovely spring day, and he welcomed the warmth of the sun on his back. Despite warnings to the contrary, he was ready to push himself. Why shouldn’t he take advantage of feeling this good? Perhaps they’d punish him in some form or fashion, but the cyclist was confident they wouldn’t follow through on any of the threats they made to hurt his family back home. Those sanctions were reserved for trying to escape, not for pushing oneself too hard during a workout. In fact, he thought he might even be rewarded for making such obvious progress in his conditioning.
What the hell? the man thought, and he started to race hard, pumping his legs, picking up speed, crouching flat against the handlebars to reduce the wind resistance. He’d been cycling for only about a year, but he doubted there was anyone in the world who could do this better. Wasn’t his country about to demonstrate to the world that they could compete on a world-class level and in all endurance-based sporting endeavors?