In a visionary move, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and a prominent billionaire, has invested $42 million to bring to life a monumental project—a clock designed to endure for an astonishing 10,000 years. This extraordinary timepiece, aptly named “The Clock of the Long Now,” is currently under construction inside a mountain in Texas, USA.
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Conceptualized and designed by renowned computer scientist and inventor Danny Hillis, the clock is intended to be a wonder of engineering and a work of art. The clock’s unique timekeeping features add an intriguing layer to its significance: it would tick only once a year, bong once a century, and cuckoo once a millennium. Bezos envisions this colossal creation as a symbolic representation of long-term thinking and a stark reminder of humanity’s responsibility to the future.
Spanning an impressive 500 feet in height, the clock will tower over the mountain, creating a captivating fusion of nature and technology. The Long Now Foundation, responsible for the clock’s construction, emphasizes sustainability and self-sufficiency. Drawing inspiration from Earth’s thermal cycles, the clock will harness mechanical energy from sunlight and even the visitors who come to witness this marvel.
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Described as a “monument-scale mechanical clock,” the project is meticulously engineered to demand minimal maintenance over its extended lifespan. The Long Now Foundation envisions this clock as a keeper of precise time for the next ten millennia, ensuring that its grandeur endures through the ages.
One of the most intriguing features of the clock’s chime generator is programmed to produce over 3.5 million distinct bell chime sequences. Each sequence corresponds to a day that the clock is visited, creating a unique and evolving auditory experience for the next 10,000 years.
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Jeff Bezos was captivated by Danny Hillis’s visionary concept. Embodying a long-term thinker with an unwavering belief in humanity’s prosperous future, Bezos viewed this investment as more than a mere financial contribution. For him, it stands as a testament to the critical importance of encouraging forward-thinking and fostering a sense of responsibility toward shaping a better future for future generations.
In an era often characterized by short-term considerations, The Clock of the Long Now stands as a testament to the power of visionary thinking and dedication to projects that transcend generations. Jeff Bezos’ substantial investment underscores the importance of balancing immediate gains with a broader and more enduring perspective, making this clock a marvel of engineering and a beacon guiding humanity toward a more thoughtful and responsible future.
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