Re: [Sci.nanotech] Slightly OT: Cloud Nines


Perry E. Metzger wrote:

However, whether such habitats would be particularly in demand or even
practical financially is another question. Buildings a mile across are
not particularly cheap to build.

I imagine the occupied structures would be suspended from the sides or base of
the lifting volume, not forming the surface itself. You could control the
heating and lift by varying the surface reflectivity or venting, which could
also allow grounding in case of hurricanes or for repairs.

If land prices or air traffic is a problem you could build at sea with an anchor
or floating base, with water tanks allowing easy adjustment of ballast.
A judicious use of trade winds may be the most efficient method of relocation.

Cheap nanotech construction methods and materials could make a cloud-nine hotel
financially viable. Even a simple temperature- or light-sensitive surface which
switches colour between black and white would be useful for this project and
more generally for insulation or temperature-control applications. Even this
type of almost-dumb or slightly-smart material has great potential.

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