(Image Credit: Sebastian Pena Lambarri/Unsplash)
According to data by American Oceans, the world's oceans are littered with approximately 363.8 billion pounds of plastic. The plastic pollution floating in worldwide oceans has become a major problem, with garbage covering around 40% of the ocean surfaces. If this continues, then plastic could outweigh all the sea fish by 2050. So far, over 5.25 trillion tiny pieces of plastic are in the oceans, with 46,000 pieces per square mile on average.
Experts argue that we must take action to fight off the epidemic since plastic is very durable and long-lasting. Timeplast is revealing water solubility, a new solution to help address plastic waste. This differs from biodegradable materials requiring soil, heat, oxygen, or bacteria since Timeplast relies on water to disintegrate plastic. The startup also says it can program plastic to begin disintegrating between hours and days.
Timeplast's solution doesn't have any microplastics or strong chemicals after disintegration. The CEO even demonstrated this by drinking a glass of water that contained plastic. As a result, retail investors have shown considerable interest in this solution.
Plastic is everywhere, including consumer goods, clothing, and single-use packaging. However, plastic production rates have exceeded the total amount produced before 2000 in the 21st century's first ten years. That issue gets worse because the fossil fuel industry plans to boost plastic production by 40% in the upcoming decade. This results in more air pollution and ocean plastic waste.
This floating city proposed by N-Ark could be home to 40,000 people in the future. (Image Credit: N-Ark)
N-Ark designers are tackling rising sea levels by creating a massive floating city called Dogen City. They claim that 40,000 people could reside in this habitat. The goal is to allow the inhabitants to travel to one point within an hour in the New Ocean zone, measuring nearly 2.5 miles in diameter. According to the roadmap, this floating city could be complete by 2030.
In addition, N-Ark wants to construct various buildings like a sports stadium. These structures would be moved by sailing them to a different area within that complex. It's also protected against severe weather thanks to the circular design. Additionally, it comes with three different infrastructures: a habitable ring with habitable zones, medical research buildings, and an underwater data center.
"New Ocean is a term intended for the ocean version of the private space business innovation 'New Space' started by SpaceX," officials say, according to a statement from SWNS.
"We will propose six elements (medical, food, housing, information, and electrical services) to realize New Ocean, promote the entry of various companies, and promote ocean development activities. Through this, we aim to create maritime innovation and seek to create this future together with participating companies, governments, and universities."
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