TEMPORE CAPSULE

 

     Ever since its appearance, humanity has been obsessed with and desperate to keep memories alive, to record its thoughts, experiences and artistic creations.

      Even though technology has gone very far, people still have not invented a medium that will not deteriorate with time. Until now the most reliable (and also the oldest) media, which is able to keep the recordings, is probably still a ceramic tablet or stone. Since ancient times, when writing was invented, thousands of years ago, mankind has not been able to create something more stable, reliable and permanent. However later on, with the invention of paper we can say that in certain conditions the preservation of precious experiences, memories, stories and findings became possible. But left without attention and care it will dissolve into the ground for good. The invention of plastic helped to some extent to stretch this time limit to a few hundred years.

      Scientists estimate that in less than five hundred years after the disappearance of humanity there will not be a single sign left of its presence. Only the pyramids of Giza and monuments alike will survive will little damage. Concrete, steel and other structures will vanish without proper maintenance. Human creations, which seem to be eternal and firm, will eventually disappear.

      We as humans are full of contradictions. On one hand, we try to find balance between leaving a less devastating effect on nature by creating recycled materials. On the other hand, we are desperately trying to create materials and media that will last forever in order to leave a trace in history. Probably in the future it will be done.

     To question everything is in the nature of a human being. What will happen with our civilisation? What will the future look like? Are we alone in the universe? These questions occupy the minds of a lot of thinkers, scientists and ordinary people. We try to predict, imagine and look to the future. By sending robotic probes into interstellar space people want to find an extraterrestrial life form beside themselves. Perhaps it is quite a romantic attempt to establish contact with other civilisations, because nobody knows for sure if this mission will have any success. But there is a need in people to send these "bottles into the cosmic ocean".

 

© 2020 Mikhail Porollo