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Why fake islands might be a real boon for science

Nature volume 550, pages 22–24 (2017)Cite this article

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The seasteading movement is getting close to building its first prototype, an artificial archipelago where people will live, play and do research.

The view is unbeatable. To the right, steep volcanic mountains, draped in green, rise up from a beachside coconut grove. To the left, the Pacific Ocean glitters turquoise under the midday sun. It is here in this Tahitian lagoon that a group of entrepreneurs plans to build an artificial island — three-quarters of a hectare of floating housing and research space, made up of linked platforms. If the team is successful, the vision could become reality by 2020. But it would be just the first step, says self-described “seavangelist” Joe Quirk. The ultimate goal is to build whole sovereign nations on the open seas, composed of modular floating units.

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References

  1. Madrigal, A. 'Peter Thiel makes down payment on libertarian ocean colonies.' Wired (18 May 2008); available at http://go.nature.com/2xanqxx

  2. Harkinson, J. 'My sunset cruise with the clever, nutty, techno-libertarian seasteading gurus.' Mother Jones (September/October 2012); available at http://go.nature.com/2khmvpx

  3. Denuccio, K. 'Silicon Valley is letting go of its techie island fantasies.' Wired (16 May 2015); available at http://go.nature.com/2ferj2f

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  1. environmental writer in Klamath Falls, Oregon

    Emma Marris

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  1. Emma Marris
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Seasteading Institute

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Marris, E. Why fake islands might be a real boon for science. Nature 550, 22–24 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/550022a

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