Featured Image Credit: Earth's Black Box/Heritage Space/Heritage Images via Getty Images
Topics: Earth, Science, Technology, Environment
Callum Jones
Topics: Earth, Science, Technology, Environment
While it's never nice to think about the end of the world, people on Earth are planning for that catastrophic event.
If human civilization does collapse, many wonder what will actually be left.
Maybe some parts of major cities will stand, or perhaps even some countries may still be prevalent.
However, there may not be a lot of evidence left behind as to how humanity collapsed as we know it.
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One ambitious team of researchers ate changing all that though with a 'black box'.
But what exactly will it do?
Well, the impressive structure is essentially a massive, indestructible box that’ll record scientific data to give future civilizations an ideal of how humanity fell.
Dubbed Earth's Black Box, the scientists' creation will be installed in a remote location in Tasmania.
The Earth's Black Box website provides much more insight on how it'll all work.
It explains: "Unless we dramatically transform our way of life, climate change and other man-made perils will cause our civilisation to crash.
“Earth’s Black Box will record every step we take towards this catastrophe. Hundreds of data sets, measurements and interactions relating to the health of our planet will be continuously collected and safely stored for future generations.”
The statement continues: “The purpose of the device is to provide an unbiased account of the events that lead to the demise of the planet, hold accountability for future generations and inspire urgent action.
“How the story ends is completely up to us. Only one thing is certain, your actions, inactions and interactions are now being recorded.”
The project is made possible thanks to a collaboration between researchers at the University of Tasmania and agencies Clemenger BBDO and The Glue Society.
Speaking about the project, Jim Curtis, executive creative director at Clemenger BBDO, told ABC: “The idea is if the Earth does crash as a result of climate change, this indestructible recording device will be there for whoever's left to learn from that.
"It's also there to hold leaders to account – to make sure their action or inaction is recorded."
Earth's Black Box will collect measurements of ocean acidification, land and sea temperatures, human population, energy consumption, military spending and atmospheric CO2.
As for its size, the box will be made from three-inch-thick steel and cantilevered off granite.
The inside of the box sees a system of Internet-connected storage drives that are powered by solar panels on the Black Box's roof.