So hear me out: datacenters in Antarctica for cheap energy and 0 nation states? \ stacker news ~tech

So hear me out: datacenters in Antarctica for cheap energy and 0 nation states?twitter.com/DiracDel/status/1781431107382297028

269 sats \ 13 comments \ @DiracDelta 28 Apr tech

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10 sats \ 1 reply \ @tolee 28 Apr

Do it. How much could it cost?? Imagine the clout.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DiracDelta OP 28 Apr

I was just thinking it is funny and practical, haha, but yes, I do suppose there would be some clout for "establishing new lands" for commercial use or whatever (beyond just the research facilities)

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @OT 28 Apr

Wouldn't those bitcoin miners melt all the ice? Lol

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DiracDelta OP 28 Apr

We need more ocean water to boil

0 sats \ 4 replies \ @Cje95 28 Apr

There would be a huge huge issue with the Antarctic Treaty.

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991, and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement prevents development and provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes on marine pollution, fauna and flora, environmental impact assessments, waste management, and protected areas. It prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific. A sixth annex on liability arising from environmental emergencies was adopted in 2005, but is yet to enter into force.

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @DiracDelta OP 28 Apr

Good thing that geothermal heat is not a mineral ;)

I don't see the issue

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Cje95 28 Apr

You cant build anything there.... lol that that kinds kills it

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @DiracDelta OP 28 Apr

ok, hear me out, new plan... we invade and conquer Antarctica and declare it the sovereign Bitcoin Citadelarctica

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Cje95 28 Apr

Sold! Assemble the men we ride at dawn!

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @Satosora 28 Apr

I guess you could get energy from this temp gradient, but what would you do with it? Unless you get everyone and everything there, its a mute point.

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @DiracDelta OP 28 Apr

Exactly, you have the best geothermal gradient on the planet!

Idk if we need all that many people since it's mostly about maintaining the machines, but anything that is not bandwidth intensive compute could be done there, so lots of bitcoin mining and AI.

I'm saying 1 million since some space CEO said something about 1 million humans in LEO, and I think we hit 1 million Antarctic service workers first... but you need absolutely massive infra to need that many people.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Satosora 28 Apr

And who actually wants to live there. You would be giving up a lot to live in a snowy wasteland.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DiracDelta OP 28 Apr

Oh no, definitely not... I imagine people would go there the same way people in mining work in the arctic, or people work out in oil-rigs. More about building server infrastructure there that is NOT IN ANY NATION STATE.