Indestructible ‘Black Box’ Tells The Future How Our Civilization Turned To Dust
Image via Earth’s Black Box
Early next year, an indestructible “black box” will be built in Tasmania, Australia, to record “every step we take” till the eventual downfall of human civilization, which, at the moment, seems most likely to stem from a climate catastrophe.
According to Australia’s ABC, the project was a joint partnership between the University of Tasmania and marketing firm Clemenger BBDO, and has already begun collecting information on its website.
The structure, which will be made of three-inch-thick steel, will feature solar panels on the top. Measuring about the size of a city bus, the black box’s interior will contain “storage devices” to record climate change-related data. In addition to information such as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and daily temperatures, an algorithm will also be used to scan the internet for related content.
In total, data space within the black box is expected to last 30 to 50 years. While there are plans in place to increase its storage capacity along the way, it’s currently unclear how that will be carried out.
Additionally, as per CNET, researchers still have to figure out key issues, such as how solar panels will be replaced before civilization ends, if the data in the storage drives can hold up for decades, and whether the structure itself can withstand sabotage.
The scientists behind the project believe that the black box could possibly trigger politicians and business leaders to face the eventual consequences of their actions, and highlight the grave need for climate change to be addressed as soon as possible.
If anything, this wouldn’t be the first time humanity’s planned for its own downfall. Oreo has set up its own Doomsday vault, and Australia has a separate frozen Noah’s Ark to preserve its indigenous fauna and flora.
[via CNET, cover image via Earth’s Black Box]
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