In this article, we are going to answer the many questions about Jeff Bezos' clock which should measure time during the next 10 millennia and go through many generations with a minimum of maintenance!
Who is at the origin of the 10,000-year clock?
First of all, the idea of this incredible clock was thought of by Danny Hillis. He is an American inventor, entrepreneur, scientist, writer, and visionary who is particularly known for his work in computer science. He is also co-president of the "Long Now Foundation" created in 1986. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering long-term thinking and responsibility through a variety of projects designed to inspire, educate, and challenge our concepts of the future. Notably, one of the major projects of this structure is 10 000 years clock.
When was the Long Now clock invented?
In 1995, Danny Hillis confided that he wanted to build a clock that would last more than 10,000 years, he came up with the idea in 1986. One of the things he said was: "I can't imagine the future, but I care. I know that I am part of a story that begins long before I remember and continues long after I am remembered. I feel that I am living in a time of significant change, and I feel responsible for making sure that change happens. I plant my acorns knowing that I will never live to harvest the oaks. I have hope for the future.
The clock that has been imagined for more than 30 years, will be designed to run once a year. The hand of the century will advance once every 100 years and a melody will resound every millennium! The melody was created by Brian Eno, a musician and also a member of the Long Now Foundation. It will work and measure time for the next 10,000 years.
How much did the Millennium Clock cost?
In order to realize this ambitious project, an investor had to be found. Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon and the richest man on the planet, seduced and also sharing Danny Hillies' vision, did not hesitate to join the adventure. He then spent about 42 million dollars to build this extraordinary clock.
This clock financed by Jeff Bezos has several names, among others, "the millennium clock", "the Long Now clock" or even "the 10,000 years clock". Much more than just a clock, it is intended to encourage long-term thinking and to encourage people to think about the future of humanity.
When did the construction of the 10,000-year clock begin?
Construction of the clock began in 2018. Jeff Bezos made a post on February 20, 2018, to formalize the beginning. However, no date for the completion of the clock was set. As the amazon boss wrote on his Twitter account, it is a project that seeks to represent a long term thought.
There is a prototype about two meters high that is on display at the London Science Museum. It was completed in 1999 just in time to ring in the new millennium.
How tall will the Long Now clock be?
It will be 150 meters high. "The Long Now Clock will be the first clock powered by thermal energy. All components were manufactured in Seattle and California in the United States. All parts must last at least 10,000 years. In addition to the clock, there will also be five memorial rooms inside the mountain.
Where is the Jeff Bezos clock located?
It will be housed inside the Sierra Diablo mountain range in the west of the state of Texas. It is not possible to come to the site during construction but once the clock is completed, Jeff Bezos invites everyone to visit the place to see it. On the other hand, one should not forget that it is a rather complicated trip because the nearest airport is several hours away by car.
Why make such a clock?
The idea of making such a clock is to get people to look into the future, to plan the life of our future generations, who will live on this Earth. At the present time, it is difficult to imagine that humanity will still live several millennia in the future. This is because of the degradation of our planet's environment caused by mankind. By creating this kind of monument, Danny Hillis and the entire Long Now Foundation hope to change that by creating a symbol linking the people of today with the generations of the future.
Explanation of the dial of the 10 Millenium Clock
