Our weekly round-up of time capsule news includes a group of kids in Ohio who sealed an Xbox into a capsule, the tragic story of a recently unearthed time capsule from 2003 that didn't fare too well, and a new Tesla monument in Silicon Valley that includes some predictions for the world of 2043.
Time Capsule Sealed for New Nikola Tesla Monument in Silicon Valley
A small crowd gathered in Silicon Valley last weekend to see the unveiling of a new monument to famed inventor Nikola Tesla. The crowdfunded 7-foot statue of the internet's favorite historical geek sits in Palo Alto and serves as a free Wi-Fi hotspot.
A 30-year time capsule was also sealed at the ceremony, with items like an iPhone and a 2013 penny. But the items that people of the future may find most interesting are simply scraps of paper: predictions from local kids for what the future might be like 30 years hence. With the recent resurgence of Tesla-mania, you can bet that people of the future will certainly know Tesla's name. But judging by the design of the new statue, they may wonder what the hell he's holding. For the record, he's holding a huge light bulb. [IEEE Spectrum]
Below, a photo of the Tesla time capsule:
XBox and Arrowhead Included in New Ohio Time Capsule
The town of Maumee, Ohio sealed a large time capsule this morning containing items chosen by local school children. The time-traveling box includes an old Native American arrowhead, some books, and clothes featuring the names and logos of local schools. The above-ground capsule also includes an Xbox, althought it's unclear whether that's an Xbox One, 360, or original. The time capsule will remain on public display indefinitely, mounted on the wall of a local theater. [Toledo Blade]
10-Year Old Time Capsules Dug Up in Tough Shape
Proving yet again that time capsuling is hard business, two metal cylinders buried just 10 years ago were recently unearthed in a pretty sorry state. A group of 25 young adults in North Carolina were disappointed to learn that their time capsules—originally buried in 2003 when they were 5th graders—had been reduced to plastic bags of mud.
"I can't believe it. I researched how to do this and everything," 5th grade teacher Susan LaMarre was quoted as saying to her former students.
The time capsules contained items you'd expect from kids, including pencils, trading cards and cassette tapes. There were also letters, though most were completely illegible thanks to the ravages of time. Surprisingly, a DVD was still in playable condition and the young adults had an opportunity to watch themselves as kids pretending to be news reporters. [The Stanly News Press]
Photos: By Tekla Perry for IEEE Spectrum