Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"The first thing that's wrong with being a science-fiction writer today is that the present has caught up with the future and surpassed it."
- Peter Watts
 |
| Genetic Ark | ||
| Enormous, multi-habitat enclosed spaces, used to conserve the animal gene pool. |
In a world of catastrophic climate change, is it even possible to prevent the loss of thousands of species?
| Pauline gestured into the vast atrium of London Ark, with its tier upon tier of enclosed, artificial habitats. The huge edifice of hanging gardens and meticulously regulated environments was a far cry from its origins in the old Regent's Park Zoo. And it was only one out of almost a hundred such structures, scattered all over the world. |
| From Earth,
by David Brin. Published by Bantam in 1990 Additional resources -
|
You could argue that this idea is already present in many zoos, since there are a number of zoological organizations that participate in conservation efforts. However, Brin is suggesting something else.
See this story on the Doomsday Vault, a real-life genetic ark for agricultural diversity.
Compare Brin's idea with the life bank from John Varley's 1977 novel The Ophiuchi Hotline.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 1 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Earth
More Ideas
and Technology by David Brin
Tech news articles related to Earth
Tech news articles related to works by David Brin
| Once A Jolly Swagbot Camped By A Billabong |
| Rowbot Small Autonomous Farm Robot |
| Vertical Farms? Still Waiting, But Concepts Abound |
| Ladybird Agricultural Robot Is Solar-Powered |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
'Do I know protocol? Why, it's my primary function.'
'When unfolded and unrolled... it became a tough, gleaming film.'
