A few other notes from this chapter

• Evidence that patients want to try out drugs on themselves
  This comment seems to be anecdotal, with views that regulation stops patients taking new drugs when they would be quite happy taking the risks (and that drug trials restrictive). The suggestion is that politicians and medical authorities are much more cautious than patients about taking early versions of new treatments, because they are charged with protecting the public.
  For instance, a US senator is trying to get an amendment to the constitution. Currently to gain access to experimental drugs, roughly 100 hours of work and 30 days waiting must be undertaken. Legislation changing this has passed in 28 states and is under consideration in 10 states [https://www.ronjohnsonforsenate.com/2016/05/10/ron-works-to-give-terminal-patients-the-right-to-try-experimental-drugs/].
  Similar legislation is being pushed for in the UK. Possible this may get backing in the Commons, but will struggle in the Lords. The main focus seems to be about when people should be allowed to try things, particularly when they are ‘no hopers’ [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/29/government-backs-wider-access-to-experimental-drugs]. One example is a petition for brain tumour patients to be allowed to try experimental drugs, with 15,000 signatures [https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/74463].

• The numbers of transistors and ants on the planet
  Intel estimates 1,400 Quintillion currently used = 1.4e21 [http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/processors/intel-predicts-1-200-quintillion-transistors-in-the-world-by-2015-1025851].
  Forbes estimates 2.9 Sextillion ever made = 2.9e21 [http://www.fudzilla.com/34833-forbes-works-out-how-many-transistors- have-been-made].
  Estimates suggest roughly 320 Quadrillion Ants on planet [http://www.antweb.org/antblog/2013/04/how-many-ants-are-there-alive-on-the-planet-jane-montana-usa.html].
  Taking these estimates together says roughly 4,000 transistors to each ant.
  Volume of transistors (including top layers of Si) is 1e-20 cubic metres, average density roughly 2.
  Mass of a typical ant is 1mg = 1e-6 kg, so volume is 1e-9 cubic metres.