Overview
The Earth 300 is a mega yacht of simply massive proportions. It’s 300 meters (1,000 feet) long and houses 22 state-of-the-art laboratories in its 13-story science sphere. Best of all? It runs on atomic energy with zero carbon emissions.
The science and other stuff to know
Earth 300 was conceived by Aaron Olivera and designed by Ivan Salas Jefferson. The duo say they’re creating the yacht to help galvanize public interest in climate change. “It has been designed to capture people’s attention but also their hearts and imaginations,” Olivera told Science Focus.
When it launches in 2025, it will transport some 450 scientists working in a variety of disciplines. Ultimately, the researchers will wander Earth’s oceans collecting data and collaborating on climate solutions. To assist the scientists in these efforts, the vessel will house a host of state-of-the-art technologies. For example, to handle the vast amounts of data it collects, the ship will carry the world’s first commercial, ocean-going quantum computer.
The engineering marvel will also be powered by atomic energy from molten salt reactors, a class of nuclear fission reactors that use a molten salt mixture as the primary nuclear reactor coolant and/or fuel. The team states that the reactor is based on technology created by TerraPower and will be “small, with few moving parts.”
So what?
The project is exceptionally ambitious. But according to the team, that’s precisely the point, as big change demands big action. “ We hope to inspire an era of ecological imagination, quickly transforming big thinking into large-scale solutions,” they said. And they may very well be right. After all, we’ve known about anthropogenic climate change for decades; however, humanity has yet to mobilize and embark on a real response. Perhaps massive, eye-catching projects like this will finally capture the world’s attention.
What’s next?
The total budget comes in at just around $550 million. That’s a lot of money. The team is funding the work through private investment and a number of partnerships. However, that doesn’t quite cover the bill. To this end, they’re selling VIP tickets for $3 million to cover additional costs. Interested in helping? Reach out here if you want to collaborate.
