Rebooting civilization with only 5 MB of essential knowledge would be an immense challenge, but here are some fundamental areas that could be covered within this limitation:
1. Basic Scientific Principles (1 MB):
(12/6/2023: Created! Visit link for our free tiny Physics textbook which weighs in as a 199KB pdf, covering the basics with formulas in 10,538 words. Now need to make these other four at 199KB or less.)
– Chemistry and the periodic table of elements.
– Biology fundamentals.
– Environmental science and sustainability.
– Basic principles of engineering.
2. Medical Knowledge (1.5 MB):
– Human anatomy and physiology.
– Common diseases, their symptoms, and treatments.
– Hygiene and sanitation practices.
– First aid and emergency medical procedures.
– Basics of nutrition and healthy living.
3. Agricultural and Food Production (1.5 MB):
– Crop cultivation techniques.
– Animal husbandry and farming practices.
– Basic food preservation methods.
– Sustainable and organic farming.
– Water management for agriculture.
4. Technological Information (1 MB):
– Basic electrical engineering.
– Mechanical engineering principles.
– Understanding and constructing simple machines.
– Basic computer science fundamentals.
– Energy generation and renewable technologies.
5. Sociopolitical Knowledge (0.5 MB):
– Principles of governance and democracy.
– Human rights and ethical considerations.
– Economic systems and basic financial literacy.
– Conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
– Importance of education and knowledge sharing.
It is important to note that these five areas are just broad categories, and within each category, the information would have to be condensed, simplified, and carefully selected to fit within the file size limitation. Additionally, other vital domains like history, art, literature, or advanced sciences might need to be sacrificed given the constraint.
How many words would this be?
On average, assuming the text is plain ASCII without any formatting or special characters, you might fit approximately 200,000 words into 1 MB, but in my tests with some minimal formatting, it was more on the order of only 52,000 words fitting into a 1 MB file. If the text includes additional formatting, images, or special characters, the number of words that can fit will be significantly lower.
So, my budget is about 10,500 words per topic, or a total of 262,500 words for the 5 MB library, or much less with images and formatting.
Images
Rebooting civilization with only 5 MB of essentials would require carefully selecting images that represent key fields of knowledge. Here are some suggested essential images for various fields:
1. Mathematics:
– Number line and basic arithmetic operations.
– Geometric shapes representing fundamental principles of spatial relationships and measurement.
– An equation representing a mathematical relationship.
– Pi symbol: Representing the mathematical constant used in calculations across various fields.
– Fractals: Depicting the beauty and patterns found in mathematics, highlighting its relevance in nature.
– Binary code: Representing the language of computers and the fundamentals of digital communication.
2. Science:
– Atom: Representing the basic unit of matter and the foundation of chemistry and physics.
– The periodic table of elements.
– Solar system: Depicting the arrangement of planets, sun, and other celestial bodies, highlighting our place in the universe.
– DNA double helix: Symbolizing the fundamental building blocks of life and genetics.
– Microscope: Signifying scientific advancements and the study of the microscopic world.
– Computer circuit: Representing technology, computing, and communication.
– A depiction of a communication device (e.g., cell phone) symbolizing connectivity.
3. History:
– Cave painting: Illustrating the earliest forms of human expression and artistic endeavors.
– Globe with trade routes: Depicting the interconnectedness of civilizations throughout history and the importance of trade and exploration.
– Key historical figures (e.g., Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein, Cleopatra).
– Gutenberg press: Representing the invention of the printing press and the dissemination of knowledge.
– Images representing various historical periods (e.g., ancient Egypt, Renaissance, Industrial Revolution).
– Peace sign: Symbolizing the universal desire for peace and the importance of diplomacy.
4. Literature/Arts/Culture:
– A portrait of William Shakespeare, symbolizing the literary arts.
– A famous painting (e.g., Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night).
– A musical notation related to an instrument representing the world of music.
– Film reel: Depicting the art of storytelling through cinema and its impact on culture and entertainment.
– Ballet dancer: Symbolizing the grace and discipline of dance, representing performing arts.
– Mosque and church: Illustrating religious diversity and the importance of spirituality in cultures worldwide.
5. Nature and Environment:
– Rainforest: Depicting the pristine and biodiverse ecosystems found on Earth.
– Polar bear on shrinking ice: Symbolizing the impact of climate change on vulnerable species and habitats.
– Coral reef: Illustrating the fragile beauty and importance of marine ecosystems.
– Wind turbine: Representing sustainable energy sources and the need for renewable solutions.
– Water droplet: Signifying the importance of clean water and the scarcity of this vital resource.
Note: It’s important to acknowledge that 5 MB is an extremely limited amount of data, so including all essential images in these fields may not be possible. These suggestions aim to provide a starting point, and the selection should be adjusted based on the specific needs and priorities of the civilization being rebooted.
These selections, while limited, can provide a basic understanding and serve as starting points for further exploration if you choose to build your own very small library of essential human knowledge.
This concept is often discussed in the context of preserving essential knowledge and information in a compact format that could be used to jumpstart civilization in the event of a catastrophic collapse. The topic is often explored in the fields of archiving, data storage, and disaster preparedness.
Citations:
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/collapse/comments/3xdpu5/is_there_a_downloadable_archive_of_essential/?rdt=41758
[2] https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/multiplayer-hacking-a-fix-around-oos-errors.530131/
[3] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35040547
[4] https://youtube.com/watch?v=bcRbsl4Bkvc