[Porsche-O-Phile]

Three things come to mind right away:

1. This is really, really, really, REALLY cool, has a lot of profound implications and has the potential to revolutionize peoples' lives in wonderful, positive ways.

2. In reality, this research will probably die on the vine unless there's a way that it can be used to build bombs, destroy stuff or kill people. Human beings tend to not see much value in research unless it can be used to blow up stuff or other people (usually ones that don't happen to believe in the same invisible magical flying sky being that they do).

3. Humanity is a curious species - we are smart and technologically savvy enough to make discoveries like this yet we still stubbornly cling to silly ancient mysticism, religion and tribal instincts that hold us back and create an extremely dangerous situation that could very well result in our own destruction. It's strange to think that we are capable of such modern, forward-thinking, brilliant manifestations of our own intelligence yet simultaneously capable of such ignorant, barbaric and backwards thinking (and actions).

Humanity's greatest achievement will be developing the ability to overcome the increasing likelihood that it will destroy itself with its own technological advancements - assuming we actually succeed in doing so. I wish I could be around in 10,000 years (or however long it takes) to see how we manage to do it. I love technology and find this stuff really amazing but the point I'm making with my above bullet points is that with each new technological innovation (the fruit of our own intelligence) comes a new and exciting opportunity for humanity to wipe itself out of the universe forever by using that technology for destruction (usually the promotion of some religious / mystical belief or political ideology).

We are a strange species. I sometimes wonder if we actually deserve to survive. Perhaps our own self-destruction is inevitable and appropriate. I hope this leads to good things but I'm used to being disappointed. Military contracts and "how do we use this to kill those who don't agree with us" thinking happens to rule the day when it comes to homo sapiens.