>>13427152 (pb)

>These problems all relate to prions = misfolded [deformed] proteins with the ability to transmit their misfolded shape onto normal variants of the same protein (Wikipedia).

Kurt Vonnegut had a book "Cat's Cradle" in which the substance "Ice 9" was featured.

It was solid water, which had the property of converting any water it touched, into a solid.

Somewhat a combination of the Midas touch (turning everything into gold, including what he tried to eat) along with the Monkey's Paw story ("be careful what you wish for" being the operative, there).

Ultimately, Ice 9 ruined the world.

It seems that [they] have created, using nanotechnology, a form of "Prion 9" if you will – just as Ice 9 turns water to ice, Prion 9 turns proteins to prions.

Both seem a one-way process.