The hegemonizing swarm can be the next-generation threat.

   The hegemonizing swarm can be the next-generation threat. 

Could this be the smallest possible quantum computer? 

It's theoretically possible. That an atom inside fullerene can form quantum entanglement in its electron shells. That thing can be the smallest possible quantum computer. And fullerene inside quartz crystal can form a miniature quantum computer. 

The quartz sends electric impulses to that fullerene- and, as an example, a krypton atom where electrons form quantum entanglements. That thing can be the smallest possible quantum computer. And it can make intelligent dust storms possible. 

But then to a hegemonising swarm. Hegemonizing swarms are swarms of Von Neumann or self-replicating machines. The Von Neumann machine can be a molecule that self-replicates. Or it can be a more complicated robot. 

Self-replicating machines and self-replicating molecules can create a so-called hegemonizing swarm. And that hegemonizing swarm can be a next-generation weapon or threat. SciFi writer Fred Hoyle created the model of the hegemonising swarm, in his novel The Black Cloud. And Stanislaw Lem introduced a similar idea in his novel "The Invincible". 

The hegemonizing swarm can look like an interplanetary nebula. 

In models, the hegemonising swarm can be: 

*Intelligent dust: There are nanocapsules where neurons live. Those swarms can require solar energy for their operations. And those capsules require a miniature nutrient source. 

*Self-replicating carbon-silicone-based molecules. Those molecules might not be intelligent. But they can form a dangerous dark cloud. And if those molecules search for energy sources or travel to heat, they can turn extremely dangerous. 

*Non-organic intelligent entireties. There is a possibility that other atoms in fullerene balls can act as nano-size quantum computers. The quartz crystal that surrounds fullerene can send electric impulses and transmit data to the atom-size quantum computer. 

There is one hypothetical alien lifeform. That is not at least very often introduced in channels that handle hypothetical aliens. The alien creature can be a swarm of small capsules that involve life support and a couple of living neurons. And the alien creature can make the entirety of those things. That entirety cannot or doesn't want to communicate with outsiders.  Those capsules travel in space and operate in entirety. 

The idea was that aliens created self-replicating machines that could create radio- or microwaves. And in Hoyle's novel the black cloud could darken the sun from the sky. 

Hegemonising swarms might not have personality or even intelligence. The nano-particles may involve living neurons. And if those small self-replicating machines involve two or three living neurons, they can form an intelligent entirety. 

There is the possibility that those hegemonizing clouds are not living and involve organic components. It's possible that things like pure silicone dust where crystal bites can form structure. That is like a quantum computer. The quantum computers caused the need to re-estimate intelligence. The Quantum computer is a powerful tool. And it can drive a very complicated code. The problem is: how to get code in the system and back from it? 

Theoretically, a silicone cloud can act like a quantum computer. And that kind of thing can be so different than humans that it will not communicate with carbon-based creatures. That kind of cloud might have no data in it. So that thing makes it the intelligent cloud with no operating systems and information. 

There is a possibility that the alien swarm or alien cloud will not have similar actions and abilities to communicate with other species. Maybe. Those species will not recognize other creatures if they have not seen them before. In that model, that creature might not have a personality. So it will not interact with other creatures. 

And it could just destroy other species if they harm a part of those intelligent clouds. Or maybe those clouds will not elude other creatures and planets. That means those giant things can destroy entire civilizations in an accident. 

But as I wrote earlier hegemonizing clouds might not be organic for being intelligent. They could be traveling quantum computers. In some Fermi-paradox models the hegemonizing swarms that are released from laboratories can destroy the entire civilization before it can travel to the stars. In some other models, the wrong-made antimatter rocket test makes the civilization and its home planet into an asteroid cloud. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Cloud

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Culture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invincible

https://theculture.fandom.com/wiki/Hegemonising_swarm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replicating_spacecraft