gray goo

( n.)

   A  hypothetical  substance  composed  of {sagan}s of sub-micron-sized
   self-replicating  robots  programmed to make copies of themselves out
   of whatever is available. The image that goes with the term is one of
   the  entire  biosphere  of  Earth being eventually converted to robot
   goo. This is the simplest of the {nanotechnology} disaster scenarios,
   easily  refuted  by  arguments from energy requirements and elemental
   abundances. Compare {blue goo}.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {blue goo}{nanotechnology}]