[neolefty]

Is the thesis that nature is so efficient that it is near the limit of what is physically possible?

I don't quite believe that thesis. While nature is vastly more efficient than our current technology in things like storage density of information and energy efficiency of computation, the arguments that it is near the limit of what is physically possible are flawed, as HNers are pointing out.

Will our technology ever reach the physical limits?

Does our technology advance by copying nature's examples?

Will our technology surpass nature along the way to the physical limits?