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Loving an Elevator
The Space Elevator has been a dream of scientists for centuries. A new design may finally make it a reality at least, by the next century.
NOTE FOR 2021 READERS: This is the 16th in a series of award-winning open letters to the next century, now just one generation away. Babies born this year in the U.S., and nearly 50 other countries, are expected to live to 2100 and beyond. These letters examine what the world could look like then and how we can make the best scenario happen.
Dear 22nd Century,
Are you loving the Elevator?
Not the ones in high-rise buildings, although I m sure plenty more of those exist in your time. Condensed city living makes environmental sense, as do vertical farms; stronger and lighter building materials mean more towers; the international competition for tallest skyscraper is unlikely to end any decade soon.