Game Theory: BioShock, Andrew Ryan's Underwater City

TL;DR

Exploring the feasibility of building an underwater city like Rapture from Bioshock through science and technology.

Transcript

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Key Insights

• 😎 Water pressure in underwater cities requires materials like Pyrex glass for structural strength and stability.
• 💦 Oxygen supply can be facilitated through undersea gardens but would primarily rely on technology like carbon dioxide scrubbers and electrolysis of water.
• ✊ Power generation using geothermal energy, especially near geological hotspots, offers a sustainable solution for underwater urban planning.
• 💗 Real-life projects like the Seasteading Institute show a growing interest in oceanic living, inspired by the concept of underwater cities in popular media like Bioshock.
• 🏛️ The feasibility of building underwater cities like Rapture is supported by existing technology and materials from as early as the 1940s.
• 👳 Oceanic living presents challenges and opportunities for innovative urban planning strategies, integrating science and sustainability.
• 👳 The allure of underwater urban planning extends beyond fiction, evidenced by current projects exploring floating ocean nations based on libertarian principles.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the Triton 36,000 submarine use Pyrex glass to withstand extreme water pressure?

The Pyrex glass sphere of the Triton sub strengthens under increasing water pressure, making it suitable for deep-sea explorations like Marianas Trench by displacing water pressure through geometry.

Q: How does Bioshock address the oxygen supply in an underwater city like Rapture?

Bioshock showcases the use of an undersea garden in Arcadia to provide oxygen, but in reality, carbon dioxide scrubbers and electrolysis of water would play a more significant role in oxygen supply.

Q: What role does geothermal energy play in powering an underwater city like Rapture?

The use of geothermal energy, as depicted in Bioshock's Hephaestus level, eliminates the need for transporting heat to the surface, making it a viable and sustainable power source for underwater urban planning.

Q: How are real-life projects like the Seasteading Institute influenced by Bioshock's concept of underwater living?

The Seasteading Institute's initiative for floating ocean nations running on libertarian principles mirrors the futuristic ideals of independence and self-sufficiency seen in Bioshock's Rapture, shaping the future of oceanic living.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Although building an underwater city like Rapture from Bioshock is theoretically possible, the materials and technology required are extensive.

• Solutions for handling water pressure, oxygen supply, waste removal, and power generation are essential for sustainable underwater urban planning.

• Real-life projects like the Triton sub exploring Marianas Trench and the Seasteading Institute aiming for floating ocean nations show the interest in oceanic living.