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| Thread: Time Capsule |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 · NEXT» |
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Consis
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Of Ruby
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posted December 31, 2004 09:11 PM |
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Edited By: Consis on 1 Jan 2005
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Time Capsule
I've been thinking about what our world would be like after a thousand years have passed and I wonder if they'll even have the same language and cultures as we do now. Will we have progress or digression? Whichever is the case, I feel we should think of making a time capsule not be opened until 1,000 years from today.
Is this really a feasible idea? That's the real question. If we want our time capsule to actually survive through the centuries then we must plan for wars, natural disasters, and good old human ignorance. Let's brainstorm a bit and think of some excellent ways to preserve our time capsule. Then let's think of what to put in it.
1. Location: I think we should bury our time capsule in a relatively low geographic activity area of the world. Where could such places exist? I don't think South Dakota has ever felt an earthquake, tornado, or volcano. That sounds like a good location. I would also suggest that we bury the time capsule in a relatively inhospitable location in South Dakota such as the side or face of a mountain cliff. On the burial site, I suggest we mold a pyramid out of pure lead. Lead does not corrode so I think it would last through rain and snow. I also think the pyramid shape is the most lasting and strongest geometric shape made by man/woman-kind. Furthermore to enhance the capsule durability, I think we should bury it at least 6 feet underground.
2. Capsule Design: I think the capsule should also be constructed/molded from lead. I think it should be an air-tight relatively hollow sphere the size of a polar bear . The container walls should be at least 6 inches thick. A sphere is the most compact shape, which I believe would enable the capsule to withstand the crushing force of a land slide. Lead would also protect the container's contents from a nuclear blast, radiation, water, and other such corrosive elements found in nature.
3. Capsule Contents: Anyone can place anything they want into the capsule. For myself, I'll place a modern Webster's English dictionary/Thesaurus, college-level Algebra, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, and Latin textbooks. I choose the Latin because this is the universal language for medicine and many areas of science such as biology. The dictionary contains plenty of maps. My greatest concern is the need for a modern-day Rosetta stone equivalent. I do not know of any currently in existence. I would seek to create such a thing and then place it in the capsule as well. I know the meaning of words change over time. How many can say they still speak ancient Hebrew? None that I know of. I do not wish the same fate for the English language. I would also place a book listing all the inventions man/woman kind has made up to this point of our history. And I would include a book listing a set of short biographies for every known person responsible for any significant achievment up to this point in our history of existence.
4. Human Factor: Firstly, I worry about unforseen wars being fought in this location. I am comfortable with the shape of the container, what it's made of, and having placed it under 6 feet of solid earth. But I worry about grave robber types and those sorts. Therefore I suggest constructing a type of fool's ruse. The idea is to set up a false chamber directly below the Pyramid site marker. And then place the actual burial of the sphere slightly off to the side. It's not actually hidden but one can imagine that people would forget over a thousand years. Only the most tenacious excavationist and researcher would find the true location.
5. Marker Identification: I suggest the marker to equate equally(in volume) to the size/mass of a large screen television. I've already proposed it be constructed in the shape of a pyramid. Now let's think of what to inscribe upon this lead marker. I suggest we do not use any current form of language. Instead, I think it might be better to use ancient Roman numerals and an engraved picture of a predicted star constellation. I believe that there are many scientists/mathematicians/astronomers who can accurately predict where the stars might be 1,000 years from today. Once we have calculated these positions when seen from the location of the site of the capsule, this could be the easiest message to the learned scholar that this date be significant for some reason. They might conclude this to be the date of the site unveiling or they might get all religious and declare us ancient peoples to have thought this date to be the end of the world. LoL. So as I was saying, I suggest we inscribe/engrave the year in Roman numerals and a correct picture of the positioning of the stars 1,000 years from the day we seal the capsule, all to be set into the lead surface of the marker.
The fact is that the true reasoning for why we constructed this time capsule may be lost over time. The objects we place in it may be forced to speak for themselves. But still, I think much can be preserved and learned from in the interest of man/woman-kind's development and knowledge of our history.
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Roses Are Red And So Am I
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Dingo
Responsible
Legendary Hero
God of Dark SPAM
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posted January 01, 2005 03:15 AM |
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It should contain photographes of landscapes, nature, snow, etc. In 1,000 years maybe plants will be different, the snow could be gone, the sky could look different. The people of the future would like to see the younger world.
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The Above Post/Thread/Idea Is CopyRighted by, The Dingo Corp.
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privatehudson
Responsible
Legendary Hero
The Ultimate Badass
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posted January 01, 2005 07:31 AM |
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It's perfectly feasible as an idea, they've done it a number of times here in the UK in the past. Generally speaking the ones I know were done for fun by Children's TV programmes, so tended to include who was number one in the charts, who designed the capsule, pictures of the area it was built in and so on.
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We're on an express elevator to Hell, goin' down!
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Consis
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Of Ruby
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posted January 01, 2005 08:12 AM |
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But...
My question of feasibility is based on the duration of the capsule being sealed. Today most capsules are sealed for no more than a century.
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Roses Are RedAnd So Am I
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Asmodean
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Heroine at the weekend.
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posted January 01, 2005 04:38 PM |
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Give us 10 years until we know more about molecular chemistry and nano-technology, then we can make it from carbon nanotubules, which is the same theoretical substance thought to be a future building material for a space ladder.
As to where we should put IT, I think that's a bit short-sighted.
I think we should put THEM in all manner of places, on top of mountains, in nuclear bunkers, drop a few in the sea, leave them in places like museums, government buildings etc.
If some catastrophe does wipe us out and only a few survivors repopu;ate the world then we should want to make them easily found, so as many as places as possible is the best bet.
Also don't forget sticking a few in the satellites that orbit the earth incase those Europan fish creatures ever evolve space flight.
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To err is human, to arr is pirate.
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Consis
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Of Ruby
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posted January 01, 2005 06:57 PM |
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Excellent Suggestion!
I totally agree to making more than one capsule and spreading them about the globe in an effort to increase the likelihood of future descendants re-discovering them.
I think putting the capsule in space would not be prudent. Unfortunately space is more unpredictable than the planet we live on. In fact, all things orbiting our planet have what is referred to as a "rate of decay". This means that an object won't maintain its orbit(stay circling the planet) around our planet without some sort of calculated thrusting ability. The object must have the means to constantly push itself, with minor calculated thrusts, to keep from falling toward the earth and burning up in the atmosphere. As for letting something drift into deep space....well I'd say that decreases the chances for anyone ever seeing it again. I think anywhere in space is a bad idea.
But what about the contents Asmodean? What would you put in it? Would you place a guitar inside? 
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Roses Are RedAnd So Am I
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Rindle
Tavern Dweller
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posted January 02, 2005 03:25 AM |
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I think Asmodean is right about maybe waiting 10 years or so to allow for developments in molecular chemistry and nanotechnology if you want your time capsule to last a thousand years. Also the content would have to be able to last that long; your copy of Webster's Dictionary will only last about 100 years due to the acid chemicals used in modern paper. I know you may be thinking Computer Discs! Unfortunately CDs only have a life-span of about 150 years. So we would have to make the contents of materials that could actually last 1000 years.
As to where we would put our time capsule(s): the one problem I see with the location you picked is that, unfortunately, in one thousand years South Dakota could be under water, or covered with molten lava. I think Asmodean's suggestion of several capsules all over the place would be our best chance at someone maybe finding them one day in a thousand years or so. I also don't think shooting some of them into space would be such a bad idea; after all, if they're to survive a thousand years then they should also be built well enough to be able to pass through the atmosphere and survive crashing into Earth's surface. Come to think of it, we could also provide them with some type of propulsion for them to remain up there for at least some time before they get pulled back down by the Earth's gravitational field.
Now to the actual content of the capsule. I think you've got the right general idea about including as much of our knowledge as possible, but since we've established that it needs to be made of high-tech materials durable enough to be able to last a millennium it broadens our possibilities. I think it should include all of our recorded history (the uncensored version of it) from the beginning of it till present date, and all of our knowledge and all of our written works ranging from fiction to non-fiction. This is obviously a tall order but considering that the content will probably have to be something like a highly advanced chip of some sort it might be possible to include all of this. There would also have to be some kind of device or interface to provide whoever finds it with a means of viewing the information, and in as many languages as we can program it.
Oh and one last thing, obviously one would think that this would be the ultimate gift to possible future generations. But if there are still people on the planet it could also be an undesired curse. Maybe they have their own versions of us and how we lived, finding out the truth about us could devastate their religion or belief system. Understandably, certain individuals might try to destroy it to keep others from finding it. This is also why I like Asmodean's idea of leaving as many of them around as possible, in as many different places.
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Pitsu
Adventuring Hero
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posted January 03, 2005 11:39 AM |
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I do not see a need for nanotubes or any high tech materials. 1000 years is a short time, and if protected from water, air(oxydation,fire) and radiation (sunlight) many materials last it easily. If I would have to do it I would just capsulate the materials into silicium or aluminium oxide or any other stable crystals. Even less resistant and structurized materials like glass or amber can serve as good capsules. If I am not mistaken amber trapped insects (organic tissue, which should be quite unstable) are up to 100 miljons of years old. And crystal trapped bacterias are believed to survive quite long lasting interstellar journeys.
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Trogdor
Legendary Hero
Words in a custom title
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posted January 03, 2005 12:32 PM |
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Two things:
1) The capsule will have old newspaper articles from the burial.
2) The capsule will be near the Murray River.
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"Through the power of the dollar you can communicate with the dead." - Artu
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bort
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Discarded foreskin of morality
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posted January 03, 2005 03:01 PM |
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We should make them out of gigantic stone blocks in the shape of a pyramid. In them we should place our pickled heads of state along with elaborate gold artifacts. The pickled organs of the pickled heads of state will placed in pickle jars adjacent to the pickled bodies.
Additionally, we will place a sign that says "Thank you for not robbing the graves," at the entrance to the time capsules. This will ensure that the items will remain for 1000 years.
The worry about the time capsule not being preserved probably isn't as big an issue as people think. Some of the Egyptian tombs (as well as other tombs and sites) were quite well preserved without the benefit of "molecular chemistry" (as opposed to the other kind of chemistry?). The bigger concern would be capsule robbers. That's why politely worded signs in many different languages would be helpful.
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Drive by posting.
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Asmodean
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Heroine at the weekend.
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posted January 03, 2005 03:08 PM |
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Well everyone will have their own ideas about the contents, and that's fine.
For preference I'd leave the capsule with the information that I was King of the World, and a God - and that I will return in 2000 years, and that anyone finding this message must proclaim the TRUTH and worship me, and all those that fail to heed the word must be put to the sword unto the 10th generation.....
But realistically - what should be included should be a detailed history of human exploits on the planet until the date of the capsule.
But, and this is a MUST. They musn't be written by just one person, or nation, or religion. They should be as un-biased as possible so people can make up their own minds as to who history's bad guys were.
Also, it should include as much as possible of our scientific knowledge as possible - so that we may give a possible 'leg-up' to the future generation, or if they're more advanced by the time they find it - to let them know how advanced we were before the 'disaster'.
Probably in a few more years we may even come up with some sort of electronic storage medium to house all this info and withstand the passage of time.
In this case then the 'Message' could be in the form of a small computer that is powered by solar energy - gettiing past the problem of no batteries or electricity potentially.
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To err is human, to arr is pirate.
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Consis
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Of Ruby
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posted January 03, 2005 03:15 PM |
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What?
Mankind writing an unbiased history of mankind? Surely you jest. Or maybe you've been eating bort's pickled heads of state!
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Roses Are RedAnd So Am I
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bort
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Discarded foreskin of morality
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posted January 03, 2005 03:56 PM |
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Well, whatever is put in there, it should include repeated references to
1. A large island nation in the middle of the Atlantic ocean called (surprise!) "Atlantis." All maps placed in the capsule should include this island and if newspapers are placed in it, they should include articles about happenings in Atlantis.
2. Contact with aliens. The history books should say they taught us how to build computers or something like that. Pictures are a plus. Personally, I think the aliens should look like Delta Burke, but that's just me.
3. All clothing items placed in the capsule should suggest that humans of this time have four arms.
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Drive by posting.
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Leo_Lion
Honorable
Supreme Hero
The 5th Element & 6th Sense!
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posted January 03, 2005 06:57 PM |
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Time Capsule suggestions...
*I would make similar Time Capsules (TC) & “pyramids” on each continent & maybe even put one on the moon; with clues to the locations of the other ones inscribed on the inside of each sphere. That way, we would not only have material from different cultures and countries included, but we could also instil a sense of global cohesion to those who will discover them.
Imagine if 1000 years from now, the world is torn apart by conflicts or if society has regressed into some sort of "dark ages". The discovery and subsequent search for all the TCs could act as a binding force; bringing together all of these people in the hope of solving the Puzzle of the 3rd Millennium. The difficulty in finding all of the TCs would make it unlikely for only one person or one group to monopolize all of the treasure inside.
*Continuing with the idea of TCs in different locations, we could also inscribe a "marker" on the interior of each sphere that would complete a message when all of them were put together. We could choose to have this message impart profound wisdom of some kind or we could have it direct the searchers to an Ultimate TC! This one could either contain a copy of the contents of all of the other spheres (in case some of the original spheres were damaged or the contents were destroyed) or it could contain some sort of symbol.
Imagine if we simply left a single Golden Ring in the middle of this Ultimate TC or if we placed an unknown skeleton in some sort of preservation tank inside. Maybe we could even try to preserve everyone on Earth’s DNA. Although this might seem crazy, I wonder what the people/aliens from the future would believe or do with this “Golden Ring”, “preserved skeleton”, or “DNA”? Muwhahahaha!
*Now, as for safety precautions and TC opening issues, I believe that radiation could be used to our advantage here. If we were to flood the contents of each sphere with radiation that will dissipate in 999 years (the skeleton or DNA would be shielded, of course ), this could be a way of insuring that even though the TCs might be discovered before the 1000 year mark, they would/could not be opened until then. We could have a "Geiger Counter" in each sphere that would automatically open it once the radiation is gone. This process would also sterilize the contents of the spheres making sure that we aren’t passing on any bacteria/virus to an unprepared civilization.
Basically, the false-sphere that Consis suggested could bear a warning indicating radioactivity and point out the 1000 year time-frame. If anyone opened the false or actual sphere before it’s time, the area would be flooded with radioactivity, which would likely deter anyone else from searching until the 1000 year mark, when it would finally dissipate.
P.S. Funny stuff Bort!
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*The end to no beginning...
*Take care, Leo
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Asmodean
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Heroine at the weekend.
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posted January 03, 2005 07:25 PM |
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Quote:
Mankind writing an unbiased history of mankind? Surely you jest. Or maybe you've been eating bort's pickled heads of state!
YES! Stick to the facts man. No 'opinions', no use of the word Evil to describe Hitler etc.
It can be done.
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To err is human, to arr is pirate.
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Svarog
Honorable
Supreme Hero
statue-loving necrophiliac
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posted January 04, 2005 01:42 AM |
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Edited By: Svarog on 3 Jan 2005
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Quote:
Maybe they have their own versions of us and how we lived, finding out the truth about us could devastate their religion or belief system. Understandably, certain individuals might try to destroy it to keep others from finding it. This is also why I like Asmodean's idea of leaving as many of them around as possible, in as many different places.
What you're saying is because finding the capsules may devestate their civilization, we should leave as many of them as possible, just to make sure they find it?! LOL
Thats so... typically human.
To avoid destroying future civilizations, I suggest we place in the capsules nothing but a copy of Playboy, a copy og HOMM and few vibrators (if its female archeologists that find them). Let them aliens have fun a bit.
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The meek shall inherit the earth, but NOT its mineral rights.
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Trogdor
Legendary Hero
Words in a custom title
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posted January 04, 2005 10:55 AM |
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Consis
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Of Ruby
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posted January 06, 2005 04:53 PM |
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Edited By: Consis on 6 Jan 2005
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Question:
I. What might we put in a Heroes Community time capsule?
~A. Should we place a log of all or only memorable members in it?
~B. Should we place the web codes for HC design in it?
~C. Should we place all or only Qp'ed posts/threads in it?
~D. Should we place all of the HC avatars/logo in it?
II. What about location and capsule design?
~A. Should we print it all out and use a real lead sphere as a capsule?
~B. Should we hide all of the information on the net somewhere encoded by a set of secrete safeguards that only a handfull of people would know about?
~C. Should we hack into the next space satellite to be sent off into the deep recesses of uncharted space and store all of HC in it?
~D. Should we do like ancient man/woman-kind has done and convert HC into heiroglyphics, engrave/paint all the codes/posts/threads/avatars/logo on some cave/temple wall, and protect it as a tomb of knowledge?
III. No Capsule needed: Location, Location, Location
~A. Should we simply tattoo the Heroes Community logo on an elephant's butt and parade him/her through the streets of all the major capitols of the world?
~B. Should we simply make T-shirts displaying:
"Been There Done That"
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Roses Are RedAnd So Am I
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pandora
Honorable
Legendary Hero
The Chosen One
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posted January 07, 2005 05:50 AM |
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But... for there to be a need for the HC capsule, that would mean that one day Heroes Community might not be here.. and that can't happen
But just to play what if's... who's to say who the memorable members are? I would think that 'memorable' is something that each person sees their own way.
If we wanted to really mess with future generations what we could do is try to convert all of Aculias' posts into heiroglyphics and see what comes of that! I mean if 9 out of 10 of us now cannot understand his posts in simple english, then what would happen if we made them heiroglyphics? It would be kinda mean I guess, but I personally would love to see what kind of confusion that could cause 
ps: sorry acu *grin*
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"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
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Leo_Lion
Honorable
Supreme Hero
The 5th Element & 6th Sense!
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posted January 12, 2005 07:04 AM |
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StrongBad is funny!
That was jolly good fun, Trogdor! Thanks for sharing that...
Oh that reminds me, those babes & royalties from my #1 hit CD (that I put in my Time Capsule) should be arriving to me right about...NOW! Hahaha!
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*The end to no beginning...
*Take care, Leo
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