Human embryo gene edited

Researchers use CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the genes of human embryos for the first time. The study focuses on correcting a genetic mutation that causes the blood disorder β-thalassemia. The experiments are conducted on non-viable embryos, sparking global debate on the ethical implications of human genetic editing.

• > Gene Editing

//old_earth/science_and_technology/39/1429747200

Intensification of global climate crisis

The global climate crisis worsens, with more frequent extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and natural disasters becoming increasingly common. Despite the growing evidence of climate change’s impacts, many nation-states remain slow to implement effective measures, with widespread ignorance and a lack of political will hindering substantial action. The global community faces mounting environmental challenges, yet significant coordinated efforts to mitigate the crisis are still largely absent.

//old_earth/environment/11/2219616000

First commercial quantum computer

The very first production ready small-scale quantum computational devices go on sale, heralding a new era in real-time simulation and analysis. Asymmetric encryption methods are directly threatened by the technology. Corporations scramble to acquire and integrate these new capabilities, eager to harness quantum advantages, leading to a new innovation race in AI, materials science and pharmaceuticals.

• > Quantum Computing

//old_earth/science_and_technology/8/2348870400

Helium reserve depletion

By the early 2050s, Earth's helium reserves are effectively depleted, marking a critical juncture in scientific and industrial progress. The scarcity of this irreplaceable element, crucial for technologies like MRI machines, cryogenics, and semiconductor manufacturing, triggers a global crisis. Despite efforts to improve recycling and discover alternative sources, the depletion highlights the consequences of unsustainable resource management, forcing industries and governments to confront the urgent need for more sustainable practices.

//old_earth/environment/27/2578608000

Oil-based economy declines

Fossil fuel usage is overtaken by renewable energy and early fusion-backed systems. Oil demand collapses, triggering economic destabilisation across petro-dependent nations. The long-unchallenged dominance of the USD begins to erode.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/74/2931120000

Widescale famine

Widescale famine strikes in the more drought-stricken parts of the world, causing catastrophic hunger and widespread suffering. As crops fail and resources dwindle, millions of people are forced to flee their homes, triggering massive refugee crises in neighbouring countries. The influx of displaced populations strains already fragile economies, overwhelms aid systems, and intensifies political tensions. The global community faces mounting challenges in providing emergency relief, while the long-term consequences of climate change and unsustainable agricultural practices become increasingly apparent, exacerbating the crisis.

//old_earth/environment/21/3183408000

Intensive soy farming begins

Intensive soy farming pivots from animal feed and biofuels, to human consumption, as worldwide food producers turn to soy as a solution to stave off famine and stabilise regions facing food insecurity. The crop's high yield and versatility make it a key player in global efforts to ensure food availability amidst the ongoing crisis. However, the rapid expansion of soy farming comes with deepening environmental issues, including deforestation, soil depletion, and water scarcity. As demand for soy grows, these environmental consequences escalate, sparking debates over the balance between immediate food security and long-term ecological sustainability.

//old_earth/environment/22/3230841600

Lunaris Station construction

The construction of Lunaris Station begins in 2075 at Earth-Moon Lagrange Point 1, a strategically chosen location providing a stable gravitational balance between Earth and the Moon. Initially designed as a modular structure, the station's core components are launched and assembled in orbit, with construction phases focusing on establishing basic life-support systems, communication arrays, and research laboratories. Early crewed missions focus on completing essential infrastructure, with a gradual increase in capacity to support long-term habitation and research. By 2080, Lunaris Station becomes operational, serving as a crucial hub for lunar exploration, scientific research, and future space missions. Its modular design allows for continuous expansion and adaptation to new technological advances, facilitating its evolution into a key node in humanity's journey to the Moon and beyond.

//old_earth/space_exploration/69/3333657600

Ocean acidification reaches critical levels

Ocean acidification reaches critical levels, severely impacting marine ecosystems and causing widespread coral bleaching. The increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves into the oceans, lowering the pH and disrupting the delicate balance of marine life. Coral reefs, vital to biodiversity and coastal protection, suffer the most, with many ecosystems facing collapse. Fish populations decline, and food sources for millions of people become threatened. The growing crisis accelerates global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and develop strategies for ocean conservation, but the damage to marine life and ecosystems is already profound, signalling a critical turning point for Earth's oceans.

//old_earth/environment/35/3528057600

Petrodollar collapses

Despite desperate interventions, major oil economies default en masse. The USD loses its global reserve currency status as the world abandons fossil-fuel-based valuations. Hyperinflation and stagnation grip the US. European states-- especially the UK and Switzerland -- emerge stable due to early fusion investment and diversified renewables.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/75/3556828800

Lunaris station expands

Lunaris Station expands to accommodate a larger crew and increased cargo capacity, enhancing its role in testing life-support systems, advanced technologies, and resource extraction methods. This expansion is critical in preparation for the planned construction of the first permanent lunar base.

//old_earth/space_exploration/70/3664224000

Helium recovery via atmospheric processing

Old natural gas reprocessing plants are retrofitted with rudimentary helium extractors and process atmospheric gases. Helium becomes available but the market price is three orders of magnitude higher than it was in the early 21st century. Limited commercial interest in sequestration of carbon dioxide via the same technology

//old_earth/environment/40/3738700800

Lunaris Station reaches full capacity

Lunaris Station reaches its full operational capacity, serving as a vital staging ground for the construction of the first permanent lunar base. It facilitates the transport of materials and personnel, positioning itself as an essential hub for lunar exploration and future space missions.

//old_earth/space_exploration/71/3813004800

Financial Power Shifts to London and Geneva

New York’s financial collapse leaves a vacuum filled by agile banking systems in London and Geneva. Untethered from EU fiscal constraints, Swiss and British banks rewrite financial rules for a new corporate age.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/76/3990297600

First permanent lunar base

Humanity establishes its first permanent lunar base to meet the growing demand for off-world resources and serve as a crucial staging point for deeper space exploration. The base is designed for scientific research, resource extraction of water ice and helium-3, and as a forward operating station for missions to Mars and beyond. This milestone marks the beginning of a sustained human presence on the Moon, facilitating advanced studies in lunar geology, deep space science, and life-support systems, while laying the groundwork for future colonization and interplanetary missions.

//old_earth/space_exploration/72/4029868800

Mass Migration Due to Rising Sea Levels

Mass migration occurs due to rising sea levels, displacing millions of people as coastlines are submerged and low-lying areas become uninhabitable. Climate refugee crises emerge as entire communities are forced to flee their homes in search of safer, more stable land. Countries bordering the affected regions struggle to accommodate the influx of displaced populations, straining resources and escalating political tensions. The growing crisis highlights the urgent need for global cooperation on climate action, as well as the challenges of adapting to the rapidly changing environment. The migration also sparks debates over borders, sovereignty, and the responsibility of wealthier nations to assist those most affected.

//old_earth/environment/36/4148496000

Corporate banking cartels emerge

A cascade of post-collapse sovereign defaults allows megabanks to dominate economic stabilisation efforts. These institutions begin functioning as de facto central banks, asserting control over monetary supply chains and global investment policy.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/77/4221504000

Emergence of the Credit Standard

With fiat currencies fragmenting, London and Geneva financial institutions launch a synthetic digital currency - the “Credit Sovereign” - backed by diversified assets, orbital infrastructure, and interstellar trade routes. It quickly becomes the transaction medium of choice among post-state corporate networks.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/81/4415990400

Soy demand outstrips possible supply

Soy demand outstrips supply as the global need for the crop surges, driven by its role in food production, livestock feed, and biofuel. The ongoing destruction and loss of fertile land, exacerbated by intensive farming practices and deforestation, make it increasingly difficult to meet this rising demand. In response, broader research programmes are launched to develop more sustainable farming methods, including soil regeneration techniques and alternative crops. Despite these efforts, the pressure on remaining arable land continues to escalate, further straining ecosystems and fueling debates over land use and agricultural priorities.

//old_earth/environment/23/4825872000

Algae food source research

Ongoing destruction and loss of fertile land soon made the research of alternatives to the traditional protein sources a major goal for the researchers of the food industry. Sustainable algae shows promise owing to higher nutrient density, rapid growth and high yield.

//old_earth/environment/24/4833993600

Collapse of Fiat Market Confidence

In the wake of repeated fiscal crises, attempts to shore up national currencies collapse. Public and private investors lose all confidence in fiat instruments. Credit Sovereign becomes not just preferred, but essential. Sovereign debt is denominated in Credit, and governments begin pegging their remaining fiat to it.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/85/4859827200

The Algae Revolution

Massive efforts lead to the current state of the food economy, where almost all available food is based on proteins, produced by genetically engineered algae and yeast.

//old_earth/environment/25/5044032000

London-Geneva Corporation formed

The London-Geneva Corporation coalesces from a network of “gentlemen’s agreements” between UK and Swiss financial entities. As it absorbs distressed state and corporate assets, its influence spreads. The LGC becomes the central intelligence and risk management hub of the global financial system.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/83/5131209600

Widespread Biodiversity Collapse

Global biodiversity declines significantly as ecosystems worldwide face severe disruptions. The extinction of numerous species accelerates, affecting ecological balance and causing widespread environmental consequences. Despite some conservation efforts, the loss of biodiversity highlights the long-term impacts of human activity and climate change, underscoring the fragility of Earth's natural habitats.

//old_earth/environment/37/5532278400

Riemann Hypothesis proven

A hybrid team led by Dr. Amira Callen and the AI collective dubbed Zetagenesis proves the Riemann Hypothesis, resolving a 2,000-year mystery about prime numbers. Their discovery of the "Prime Resonance Framework" reveals a deep spectral symmetry underlying the zeta function. The proof redefines cryptographic foundations and spawns the new mathematical discipline of Analytic Resonance Geometry.

//old_earth/science_and_technology/53/5566233600

Formation of the Universal Banking Corporation (UBC)

Twelve megabanks and four sovereign wealth custodians consolidate with the LGC under a unified regulatory structure based jointly in London and Geneva. The UBC takes over Credit issuance, cross-border arbitration, and macroeconomic steering. Sovereign governments are granted only non-voting observer status.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/82/6348326400

Geoengineering projects commence

Humanity deploys large-scale geoengineering projects to attempt to reverse existential climate crisis. Ambitious atmospheric aerosol dispersion and carbon capture projects are initiated to stabilise the environment.

//old_earth/environment/38/6557500800

Credit Eclipse: The End of Fiat Governance

Over 85% of orbital and planetary economies denominate in UBC-regulated Credit. Fiat persists only in unstable zones and isolationist states. The IMF and World Bank dissolve, their roles fully absorbed by the Consortium, now the de facto sovereign of global finance -- answerable only to itself.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/84/6808838400

Energy access disparity

The world’s energy is no longer an issue of scarcity, but one of access. Large corporations and powerful governments act as fusion gatekeepers, controlling who gets energy and at what price. This increases the divide between wealthy elites and the impoverished masses, leading to societal tensions and resistance.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/42/7348838400

Rare earth metal schism

Massive energy availability allows some the ability to extract rare earth metals essential for advanced technologies, granting immense power to those with access. This leads to more aggressive resource extraction, deepening global economic and political divides. A 'schism' emerges, where those with access to these critical materials prosper, while those without are left behind, intensifying conflicts and competition for control of these valuable resources.

//old_earth/science_and_technology/43/7391865600

Political fragmentation

Governmental inability to manage environmental degradation, energy access, and economic instability leads to widespread governmental failures. Corruption, political ineffectiveness, and the erosion of democratic processes make state governance untenable in many regions. This causes the collapse of centralised governance, resulting in political fragmentation as smaller states, regional powers, and autonomous corporations fill the void, with localised conflicts becoming more common and tensions rising between increasingly isolated factions.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/44/7417094400

Military alliances

Energy scarcity, technological control, and economic instability force governments and corporations to form unlikely alliances for survival and power consolidation. The competition for resources and technological supremacy becomes a key factor in military strategy. Unlikely alliances form between government and corporate agencies, both seeking to protect their interests and secure valuable energy and resources. These alliances are marked by a fragile balance of power, with militarised corporations gaining significant sway and diplomacy becoming strained as rhetoric escalates.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/45/7436707200

Escalation to war

Diplomatic breakdowns, combined with growing competition for resources, energy, and technological superiority, create a volatile atmosphere. Aggressive rhetoric from political leaders and corporate executives ignites tensions that spiral into direct confrontations. Global conflict erupts, blurring the line between state and corporate interests. The war begins with small skirmishes and proxy battles but quickly escalates into a full-scale global war, pitting alliances of governments and corporations against each other.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/46/7440508800

First use of radiological weapons

In a desperate bid for dominance, one faction resorts to the use of radiological weapons. Deployed as a show of force and to cripple their opponents, these weapons cause widespread contamination, loss of life, and irreparable environmental damage. This horrific act sets a grim precedent, triggering a domino effect as other factions follow suit, escalating the war with increasingly devastating weapons.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/47/7493731200

Collapse of major governments

Prolonged war, the devastating impact of radiological weapons, and the complete failure of traditional governmental systems lead to the collapse of several major governments. The loss of functioning political structures leaves regions vulnerable and fractured. With major governments falling, power vacuums emerge, and multinational corporations step in, increasingly taking on governance roles in many areas

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/48/7519305600

Emergence of corporate defence forces

As corporations gain more power, they form private defence forces to protect their economic, technological, and territorial interests. These private armies, made up of mercenaries and former state military forces, are incentivised with generous remuneration packages. Corporate armies become a major force in global affairs, often acting independently of state or international law. As corporate influence expands, multinational corporations grow in power and control over the global landscape.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/49/7533043200

Corporate sabotage and subversion

With corporations, backed by their defence forces, becoming more influential in global affairs, internal competition between larger corporations intensifies. Subversive factions within these corporations, eager to gain an advantage or disrupt rivals, begin engaging in covert operations, sabotage, and espionage. The rise of corporate saboteurs creates a volatile and secretive battlefield, with corporations waging covert wars against each other using advanced technologies, AI-driven cyberattacks, and infiltrations of key infrastructure. These shadow conflicts destabilise global trade and technology networks, further deepening tensions and creating a climate of mistrust and paranoia in a world already dominated by corporate power.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/68/7577884800

Corporate Congress formed

The growing influence of corporations, combined with the collapse of some state governance, leads to the formation of the first "Corporate Congress." This coalition of corporations seeks to consolidate power and establish a unified governance structure to control the global economy and military. The Corporate Congress becomes a dominant force in global affairs, sidelining many remaining traditional governments and exercising de facto control over vast swathes of the Earth. The influence of corporations over political and economic systems becomes unassailable, further eroding the power of states.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/50/7652620800

End of the war

After over a decade of brutal conflict, the war winds down as the major powers realise that continued fighting is no longer sustainable. The sheer devastation and resource depletion force all sides to negotiate an uneasy peace. The war officially ends, but the global landscape is permanently altered. The Corporate Congress, having emerged as the most powerful entity during the conflict, now controls much of the world. Traditional countries remain but are relegated to junior partners in this new corporate-dominated world order, setting the stage for a new era defined by corporate quasi-states, where economic and technological power outweighs political sovereignty.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/51/7787836800

Gemini completes strategic dock

After seven years of intermittent development and budgetary brinkmanship, the majority-Gemini–funded strategic dock was launched. Intended as a high-altitude logistics platform to support orbital cargo exchange between Earth and other sectors of the system, the flat, utilitarian slab - constructed from reinforced titanium composite - served as a refuelling and research station.

• > Large-scale graphene production
• > Hybrid carbon-based superstructures

//old_earth/space_exploration/80/8505561600

Sporadic corporate skirmishes

Conflicts begin to shift toward territorial disputes over resource-rich zones and strategic infrastructure. Skirmishes grow increasingly commonplace as corporations deploy private militias, automated defense networks, and covert influence operations to assert control. The old lines between economic competition and militarised enforcement blur into obsolescence.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/64/8737545600

Military-Corporate optimisation

As AI-driven co-cognition matures, elements of corporate dominance emerge through the alignment of objective functions across major entities. Segments of certain neural nets are quietly classified and restricted, becoming internal to corporate systems. As the tactical edge becomes evident, competitors begin developing proprietary variants, leading to an arms race of algorithmic supremacy.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/78/9187171200

AI co-cognition

The launch of the "Neural Net" marks a turning point in human evolution - brain-computer interfaces enabling seamless, real-time access to global data networks. Individuals gain the ability to interact with financial markets, medical systems, and sociopolitical structures through thought alone. While the advancement transforms productivity, intelligence, and decision-making, it also introduces profound risks: surveillance, manipulation, and a growing reliance on systems few truly understand. Society becomes deeply interconnected - and dangerously exposed.

• > Neural networking

//old_earth/science_and_technology/12/9262684800

Second War begins

After a brief period of relative stability - during which some regions of the environment began to show signs of recovery - fractures widened over control of these resurging biomes. Corporations and nations clashed over the custodianship of clean water, arable land, and the few biologically intact regions left. The advent of neural nets capable of modelling and forecasting tactical outcomes created a high-speed optimisation arms race. The imbalance between those who could harness such systems and those who could not became untenable. Within months, tensions boiled over - first between rival corporations, then nation-states - igniting the Second War.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/60/9274003200

Day of Ashes

A catastrophic escalation of corporate warfare culminates in the largest nuclear exchange in human history. Several nuclear-armed corporations, determined to eliminate rivals at any cost, launch coordinated first strikes, triggering retaliatory salvos from others with second-strike capability. The resulting firestorms obliterate megacities, reduce strategic installations to molten glass, and plunge millions into chaos. With an estimated 700 million dead, the Day of Ashes becomes the bloodiest day ever recorded - its fallout reshaping the world for generations to come.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/61/9277113600

The Ashen Wake

In the immediate wake of the nuclear exchange on The Day of Ashes, the world is plunged into chaos. Entire cities lie in ruins, and millions are displaced, wounded, or suffering perilously from radiation sickness. The global economy collapses, traditional governance disintegrates, and a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale unfolds. Further environmental devastation, including nuclear fallout and the onset of a potential nuclear winter, critically threatens survival. Refugees flood into less affected regions, overwhelming them, while local authorities and remnants of corporate factions struggle to maintain order. The trauma leaves a scar across humanity, marking the dawn of a dark and uncertain era.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/62/9277804800

Corporate phoenix

The remnants of the corporate world begin to consolidate power in the form of fortified city-states. These surviving corporate enclaves, mostly located in less affected regions, establish themselves as new centres of governance and control. Refugees are either absorbed into these controlled zones or left to fend for themselves in the wastelands. The corporate states enforce strict entry policies, creating stark divides between those within their protected boundaries and the desperate masses outside. The world fractures into isolated hubs of corporate power, with traditional states dwindling amid a shattered global landscape.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/63/9284198400

Cyber attack vectors

Cyber warfare intensifies as corporations and rogue nation-states exploit the Neural Net to launch attacks on each other’s digital infrastructure, causing disruptions in communication, supply chains, and governance. Espionage and sabotage become prevalent, with rival corporations attempting to undermine each other through hacking, data breaches, and misinformation campaigns.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/65/9314179200

Proxy conflicts

To avoid direct confrontations that could escalate into another global disaster, corporations increasingly rely on proxy conflicts, supporting local factions and mercenaries to fight on their behalf in contested regions.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/66/9319536000

Refugee rebellions

As millions of displaced people flood towards corporate-controlled zones, tensions boil over into violent uprisings. Faced with exclusion and harsh policies, refugees in and around the corporate enclaves rebel, seeking to overthrow their oppressors. These rebellions are swiftly and brutally suppressed by corporate security forces, leading to further cycles of violence and deepening the humanitarian crisis.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/67/9322992000

Corporate-dominated ceasefire: the age of megacorporations

As prolonged conflicts take their toll, weaker corporations are absorbed by stronger rivals, giving rise to a few dominant Corporate Phoenices. These mega-corporations begin to consolidate power and resources, emerging as the unchallenged rulers of the post-apocalyptic world. Through strategic alliances and the subsuming of the largest remaining traditional nations, these megacorporations force a peace settlement. The resulting ceasefire cedes significant powers to corporate interests, reducing the remaining traditional nations to puppet states under the control of the conglomerates. This marks the complete entrenchment of corporate control over global affairs.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/59/9342691200

Ny Zurich build commences

The Universal Banking Corporation becomes the first major corporation to shift its base of operations entirely away from Earth by establishing Ny Zurich, a large space station strategically positioned far from the planet at the Earth-Venus Lagrange point L4. This move marks a significant shift in corporate power to orbital habitats, providing the UBC with security and neutrality amidst escalating corporate conflicts on Earth. Ny Zurich sets a precedent for other corporations considering similar relocations to ensure stability and autonomy.

//ny_zurich/space_exploration/52/9344419200

Radiance Treaty proposed

A tentative framework to dismantle key barriers to peace is put forward by a loose consortium of corporations. The proposal offers to fund and install a global canopy of low-maintenance solar collectors, suspended in the upper atmosphere and tethered via conductive cables to Earth's surface. The system would deliver baseline power to all -- ensuring minimal survival infrastructure: communication, dimmed illumination, and passive shielding from radiological exposure.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/79/9373190400

Second War officially ends

A year and a day after the ceasefire, all effective power on Earth is formally transferred to the conglomerates. Global trade frameworks pivot toward resource extraction and technological expansion. The Radiance Treaty is ratified by a majority of corporate powers, and construction begins.

//old_earth/law_order_and_defence/57/9374313600

Global solar collector network deployed

A vast array of solar collectors lifts from Earth's surface, forming a near-total dense black canopy 20 miles above ground, with occasional slivers of light slipping through the imperfect tessellation. Though ecologists raise urgent concerns for the long-term biosphere, public consensus is clear: the loss of the sky is deemed an acceptable cost for uninterrupted energy supply.

• > Hybrid carbon-based superstructures
• > Terawatt cabling
• > Solar collector

//old_earth/science_and_technology/26/9469872000

Final mass terrestrial migration

Large portions of the world's population migrate due to radioactive fallout, rising seas, and breakdown of fundamental land and sea ecosystems. Pressure on city-states and corporate nations intensifies, forcing smaller nations into economic collapse or acquisition, often at the hands of larger corporate entities seeking uncontested control.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/56/9520588800

Transient temperature stabilisation

Despite radioactive contamination and long-term environmental damage, some cooling and temperature stabilisation begins in some regions - owing to 75% of the Earth's sky being covered by the solar collectors,

//old_earth/environment/58/9860486400

BTL emergence

First rudimentary "Better-Than-Life" drugs appear, transcutaneous interface to the neural net itself, and basic electrical stimulation via the interfacing protocols provided by the ubiquitous neural net standard. These usually came in translucent forms with foil or colourful motifs to denote type or creator. Popular almost immediately, they supplanted many traditional drugs, offering a cleaner, safer "escape."

• > Neural networking

//old_earth/science_and_technology/30/10212652800

Universal Basic Income introduced

In a move designed to stabilise the global economy amidst widespread automation and increasing unemployment, the Universal Banking Corporation (UBC) introduces Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a tool to maintain credit circulation and prevent economic stagnation. The UBC's primary goal is to keep consumption flowing by ensuring that everyone, from the poorest to the wealthiest, continues to receive a small, centrally set daily stipend. This strategic move strengthens the UBC’s position as the sole controller of global credits, consolidating their financial grip on all entities with communicable neural nets. The UBI ensures that wealth flows consistently, reducing the risk of inflationary collapse, while sidestepping the need for complex administrative systems. Although marketed as a humanitarian measure to reduce poverty and ensure social stability, its deeper purpose was clear: to guarantee the UBC’s unassailable dominance, with all factions dependent on their credits for daily survival.

//old_earth/politics_and_corporations/73/10312617600

Arcologies proposed as habitation solution

As the remainder of the traditional nations collapse and corporate entities fracture, those remaining increasingly rely on bioengineering and AI. Technological advances and a grim realisation of the inevitable lead to the proposal of a floating city - an arcology - a mammoth undertaking both financially and in terms of Earth's scarce resources. Corporations scramble to research the outstanding technology necessary to make this happen.

//old_earth/science_and_technology/55/10448265600

First floating arcology launched

The first floating arcology, Insilico City, is launched. Funded primarily by Gemini Cybernetics, this monumental project ascends to a position five miles above the Earth's surface, offering refuge from the severe ecological crises plaguing the planet. Insilico City represents a new era in urban development, combining advanced technology with self-sustaining infrastructure to create a viable urban habitat far above the chaos below.

• > Hybrid carbon-based superstructures

//insilico_city/science_and_technology/7/11563344000

Earth becomes Ruins

When the majority of the population had left the surface, the unofficial designation became "the ruins", which some view as a testament to humanity's consumptive and destructive tendencies.

//earth_ruins/environment/34/12225859200

Introduction of the Population Control Act

The act mandated the introduction of chemical agents into arcological environments to inhibit human reproduction without city-sanctioned permits. Within hours of the announcement, protests erupted in several major arcologies, with large gatherings in key urban centres. Citizens carried signs and chanted slogans advocating for reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. Whilst prominent doctors and scientists publicly criticised the Act, many other healthcare professionals began preparations to manage the implementation of these measures.

//insilico_city/politics_and_corporations/54/12534393600

Formation of New Durham Robotics

An amalgamation of a number of boutique, high-end technology companies formally incorporates in ND, with a focus on delivering high-performance AI solutions for medicine, alongside cutting-edge surgical robotics

//new_durham/science_and_technology/17/13772937600

The Crash

The Centralized Exchange Network (CENet) experiences a total systems collapse, leading to widespread economic and technological disruption.

//insilico_city/politics_and_corporations/14/14616720000

MASIA Introduced

In response to "The Crash", the Mutually Assured Systems Integrity Act (MASIA) was enacted to regulate artificial intelligence and prevent future crises. MASIA established mandatory classifications for AI systems, from basic automation (Class I) to potential singularity-level intelligences (Class VI), with strict controls and oversight to ensure safety and compliance

//insilico_city/politics_and_corporations/15/14618880000

Biodynamics founded

With humble beginnings as a small medical firm, competition drove this company to relocate, eventually ending up at research stations on Mars.

//ny_zurich/science_and_technology/41/15093475200

Formation of VASC

Vander Air & Space Corp cut its teeth on the frontiers of Mars for decades, positioning itself to become the military powerhouse that it is today. VASC equipment and personnel are highly sought after by corporations seeking to bolster their own security posture, and highly feared by those that don't. Hostilities throughout the solar system may keep VASC flush with new opportunities, but the conflicts on Mars alone are enough to keep the company profitable for decades more to come.

//insilico_city/politics_and_corporations/18/15494544000

Business Criminal Liability law introduced by UBC

Businesses are now held liable for the crimes committed by their employees or agents if those crimes are performed within the scope of their employment, for the benefit of the business, and if they meet specific legal criteria. Business owners, employees, and agents may be individually liable for crimes committed directly or in conspiracy with others

//insilico_city/politics_and_corporations/33/15745449600

AGIS introduces Recap

Partial memory recording technology and implantation readied and commercialised by AGIS, marked as officially consumer ready through exploiting the ubiquity and fine resolution of the neural net.

//insilico_city/science_and_technology/32/16038604800

MASIA Amendments

MASIA amended to include limitations on AI self-replication and "gestalt intelligence" networking to prevent emergent risks.

//insilico_city/politics_and_corporations/16/16203542400

Legal recognition for fabricants

Over time, fabricants gain legal recognition as entities with rights, though they remain a highly regulated class of being. Despite their synthetic nature, fabricants are granted access to most societal privileges, though the distinction between humans and fabricants remains a contentious issue.

//neoshoda/environment/13/16224364800

Tower collapse

A large apartment building in the north-west district of Insilico collapses in mysterious circumstances. Significant loss of life and injury sustained.

//insilico_city/environment/19/16379366400

AGIS OpenCountermeasures

After a spate of high-profile hacking incidents against registered citizens, AGIS release their OpenCountermeasure System; a technology that allows automatic penalisation of unauthorised entities attempting to access the data of individuals, obviating the need for direct law enforcement. The system will allows a digital signal to proceed to an artificial adversary, or to be encoded into a viral genome via overlapping nucleotide sequences. A variety of countemeasure effects are available, reducing an adversary's cognitive abilities or physiological capacity for a period of hours or days. After release, successful hacking rates across the city dropped by a factor of 5 overnight as registered citizens and civilians raced to protect their most precious personal property - their data - leaving only the most capable hackers with a chance of success

//insilico_city/law_order_and_defence/5/16421184000

Recap facility goes live

The next-generation Recap facility goes live in Insilico, marking a step-change in capacity for memory implant and recovery technology

//insilico_city/science_and_technology/20/16434057600

ROCA ordinance

AGIS implemented the Registry of Organic Companion Animals (ROCA) ordinance, allowing select individuals or corporations to acquire genetically engineered companion animals, subject to strict conditions. These animals, sterile and considered AGIS intellectual property, could be granted to entities in good standing with AGIS, with specific restrictions on their use, presence in public establishments, and genetic handling. Violations, including unauthorised breeding or cloning, could lead to confiscation of the animals and revocation of privileges. The ordinance established AGIS's authority to manage and control the distribution and oversight of these engineered organisms within urban settings.

//insilico_city/science_and_technology/28/16441228800

Enhanced BTLs

AGIS confiscate a cache of dangerously modified form of BTL chips. Their continued use leaves a raft of fatalities in their wake, with post-mortem damage extending beyond simple neurokinetics and sparking concerns of long-term damage occurring even after a single use

• > Fusion Energy
• > Neural networking

//insilico_city/science_and_technology/31/16445116800

Redesignation Act assented

The Redesignation Act of 2491 was enacted to standardise species designations, particularly for fabricants with varying degrees of mechanical and biological augmentations, enhancing census accuracy and aiding in the enforcement of Grey's scale and MASIA regulations. AGIS was tasked by ARC to provide clear nomenclature, replacing historical terms with negative connotations. The Act mandates the use of specific terms like "lightly augmented allogene" or "heavily augmented human" for clarity and accuracy, with an emphasis on using non-pejorative language in formal documentation. This reclassification aims to improve clarity in the identification and categorisation of individuals across different species and augmentation levels.

//insilico_city/politics_and_corporations/29/16455916800

Today

Earth is more or less a forgotten relic, an echo of what it once was, a permanent reminder of what humanity collectively did to it. The majority of power now rests firmly in the hands of the corporations, with most people relegated to a life worse than that of mere pawns in their sprawling operations. The chasm between the elite and the rest of the world has never been so wide. Crime is rampant, an inevitable by-product of inequality and corporate neglect. The privileged few continue to thrive in isolated havens beyond the planet's decaying surface - new worlds, new stations - but even these exist only at a steep price. For those left behind, the stakes couldn’t be lower. But for those with the means to rise, the game is far from over. The rules may have changed, but the struggle for power persists in the shadows of humanity's former home.

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