• Plastic paradise: Scientists plan to turn Pacific Ocean waste into a floating island Rea
    60 replies, posted
I want to see pictures of these plastic bottles in the sea.
The mid 90s Povray renderings suggest to me there's no chance in hell that this would happen
[QUOTE=Ickylevel;23067396]I want to see pictures of these plastic bottles in the sea.[/QUOTE] There's just an area in the middle of the ocean that's got a very high plastic content (little ground up bits and such.) Someone gave it the name garbage island and people get this picture of an iceberg made out of bottles in their head.
[QUOTE=Ickylevel;23067396]I want to see pictures of these plastic bottles in the sea.[/QUOTE] I couldn't be bothered finding the bottles, but I think I found Cthulhu's beard instead :v: [img]http://www.dominionpaper.ca/files/dominion-img/gyre.preview.jpg[/img] No wait I found a bottle or two. [img]http://freethinkerspress.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/plastic1.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=Ickylevel;23067396]I want to see pictures of these plastic bottles in the sea.[/QUOTE] Small plastic items have a long time to float out to the garbage patch. By the time they get there they photodegrade into small particles that are almost unnoticeable. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodegradation[/url] Theres pictures of the stuff on google. Go look. Imageshack isn't working for me right now so I can't post any pictures.
Those silly Dutch again. Floating city's are not a new thing, I wish they finally started to build one.
snip
The conceptual images they made are pretty badly done, but it's an ambitious idea nonetheless.
what happens when a hurricane comes along :munch:
[QUOTE=OvB;23064666]Daily mail post a lot of bullshit?[/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eBT6OSr1TI[/media] FUCK NINJAD
[QUOTE=mastermaul;23067194][img]http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/t/tr/try2004.gif[/img] Still waiting for the pyramid in Tokyo Bay.[/QUOTE] I never liked that picture, the cloud always made it look like the place was just bombed.
[QUOTE=LCBADs;23071912]I never liked that picture, the cloud always made it look like the place was just bombed.[/QUOTE] I think they're heading in that direction anyway XD
Oh hell yes.
[QUOTE=Biotoxsin;23065821]Would be bigger than the states Delaware and Rhode Island.[/QUOTE] The OP said "An island the size of Hawaii"
look at their shitty 3D modelling
[QUOTE=mastermaul;23067194][img]http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/t/tr/try2004.gif[/img] Still waiting for the pyramid in Tokyo Bay.[/QUOTE] There was a video on yesterday actually about issues with construction and how they were trying to get spider robots or something to help construct it. I was on my laptop so wasn't fully watching it.
[QUOTE=mastermaul;23067194][img]http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/t/tr/try2004.gif[/img] Still waiting for the pyramid in Tokyo Bay.[/QUOTE] Yeah, shame that we wont live to see that thing, unless we master robotics or some sort of replicating nanocells.
This idea will sink
[QUOTE=Dr. Fishtastic;23081529]This idea will sink[/QUOTE] You get a funny for the first Pun in the thread.
[QUOTE=Billiam;23064685] Except in real life?[/QUOTE] Oh you beat me to it.
If the Dutch can do things like the delta works, and basically seal off their whole coastline, I'm sure they can do this. Also micro nations are awesome. [editline]07:23PM[/editline] [QUOTE=mastermaul;23067194][img]http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/t/tr/try2004.gif[/img] Still waiting for the pyramid in Tokyo Bay.[/QUOTE] Kirov airship top right?
i wish it could come to be
It would cost way too much to extract the plastic. In a few decades, when we have the technology, we can sew Carbon Nanotube molecules together to make filters that allow the water to pass and get particles as large as we want them to be, but even then you'll have to sent those Carbon nets, extract the plastic, send equipment to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to melt it and give it shape...
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;23084789]It would cost way too much to extract the plastic. In a few decades, when we have the technology, we can sew Carbon Nanotube molecules together to make filters that allow the water to pass and get particles as large as we want them to be, but even then you'll have to sent those Carbon nets, extract the plastic, send equipment to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to melt it and give it shape...[/QUOTE] It could be done with a large ship with a hopper in the front. Ship sucks up water and sends it through a series of filters that filter the stuff out by size and material, then sends it to the appropriate recycling facility on board the ship to be smelted into blocks. Blocks are then put on a cargo ship when the factory ship is full, then shipped off to the mainland for processing. Factory ship could be nuclear powered so it could stay at sea indefinitely swapping out crew and cargo via helicopter. Alternatively, you could send the blocks to a large specialized platform much like an oil platform that makes the appropriate pieces for the island. Cleaning the gyre is 100% doable in our lifetime, it will just require money and determination.
[QUOTE=Tea;23081678]Oh you beat me to it.[/QUOTE] I certainly would beat you to it Tea. :smug:
But what if a large wave appears? Won't it get pushed beyond imagination till it hits an iceland?
[QUOTE=Tools;23084900]But what if a large wave appears? Won't it get pushed beyond imagination till it hits an iceland?[/QUOTE] The shear size and design should keep it safe from rouge waves and cyclonic storms. The currents from the gyre should keep it relatively centered in the Pacific. (and it would probably have azipod thrusters so it's not just at the mercy of the ocean)
This is such a pipe dream it's not even funny.
idealistic, overambitious, not cost-efficient, will never happen.
Sea level slightly rises. tragedy strikes
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