Polish Time Capsule Uses The "Language Of Objects" To Showcase Our Civilization Kids News Article 11/26/17, 11:30 AM

Polish Time Capsule Uses The "Language Of Objects" To Showcase Our

Civilization
By Daksha Morjaria on November 16, 2017

Burying time capsules for future civilizations is not a new concept. However, the one hidden
underground near the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund, Spitsbergen, in the Norwegian Svalbard
archipelago, is a little unique. Instead of detailed documents to showcase our progress and
knowledge, the capsule contains objects, which the creators believe will be easier for future
historians to interpret.
The stainless steel bottle, which was buried on September 17 to celebrate the research stations
60th anniversary, is the brainchild of Marek Lewandowski, a permafrost specialist at Warsaws
Polish time capsule uses language of objects for future Polish Academy of Sciences. The researcher, who selected the items after consulting with
civilizations (Photo Credit: Lewandowski)
experts worldwide, says, It (the capsule) is a bit of a balancing act between
jocular and serious science. But I do think its a good way to capture what we know today about the natural history
of our planet and the evolution of life on it.
The contents, divided into five sections, are meant to enlighten future inhabitants about our civilization, natural
environment, and technological advances.
The first section is dedicated to geology and contains items like 416 million-year-old zircon grains and evidence
marking the various stages of human evolution. This includes banded ironstone formations sedimentary rocks
that formed 2,400 million years ago when oxygen first appeared on Earth. The objects are all carefully laid upon
lava from a 2014 volcano eruption in Honduras.
Dried DNA of a male and female human, a rat, salmon, and potato, along with a cartoon depicting their respective owners, fills up the
biology container. Also placed in three sealed glass tubes are tardigrades. The scientists hope that the DNA of these microscopic
water bears, which can survive extreme radiation, drought, and heat, will be useful for future civilizations. The section also contains
grains and plant seeds.
Since glaciers are melting in record numbers, the researchers decided to place a specimen of Hornsunds Hans glacier inside a glass
container in the environment section. A sample of shellfish will enable the discoverers to discern the current temperatures in
Hornsund, while photographs of the area and wildlife will allow them to glean insight into life as it is today. An image of the Earth from
a million miles away is meant to inform them about the current progress of space exploration.
Given that silicon-based integrated circuits (IC) are the foundation for most current devices, the
technology container is devoted to microdevices, like MEMS accelerometers small sensors
used in everyday products like cars, mobile electronics, and even airplanes. Also included is a
sample of quartz sand and some silicon wafer - raw materials for all ICs.
DOGO
DOGOnews
news
Fodder for young minds A credit card, small mobile phone, mechanical wristwatch, 25 coins from around the world, and
a syringe representing our healthcare, are some of the things in the final section, designed to
give future generations a peek into our daily lives.
A mesozoic ammonite, one of a host of fossils and rocks
Lewandowski says his idea has generated tremendous interest from researchers who are
in the capsule (Photo Credit: Lewandowski)

planning to bury their own versions of time capsules in different parts of the world. The scientist says, "If there are more buried
capsules, that increases the chances that one of them will be found.
Resources: nature.com, timecapsule.igf.edu.pl

Print Article

https://www.dogonews.com/2017/10/7/polish-time-capsule-uses-the-language-of-objects-to-showcase-our-civilization Page 1 of 2
Polish Time Capsule Uses The "Language Of Objects" To Showcase Our Civilization Kids News Article 11/26/17, 11:30 AM

Vocabulary
archipelago

capsule
civilizations

concept

dedicated

depicting
discern

enlighten

environment

eruption
evolution

geology

glacier

glean
inhabitants

interpret

jocular
microscopic

permafrost
radiation
respective

sedimentary
showcase

syringe
technological
tremendous

https://www.dogonews.com/2017/10/7/polish-time-capsule-uses-the-language-of-objects-to-showcase-our-civilization Page 2 of 2