We are just beginning to understand how to program basic materials from scratch. Maybe one day, we will have chemical foundries that can produce industrial-scale solvents and products in a silo, and these could be anywhere in the world. We might become less and less dependent on geography and local resource limitations to supply the world’s food, fuel, and needs. And maybe once everything sort of settles down and we have fusion and clean water for all and food and basic materials can be printed, then maybe we can start to clear out the planet’s clogged arteries.
