While the Middle East is going through a tough time at the moment, to put it mildly, it may be worth remembering the hubris of the region over the years. For example, Saudi Arabia was planning to build a new city in the desert called Neom that would have included a $500 billion 100-mile horizontal urban “skyscraper” named The Line (shown above). Yes, endless oil riches can lead to such silliness.
Consider it the equivalent of Egypt’s pyramids, another over-the-top public works project. And like the pyramids of old, The Line is now a monument to the dead, or in this case the death of the country’s Vision 2030 plans. After reports of climbing building costs, as well as the deaths of thousands of workers (similar to the pyramids), the whole gargantuan project may be down-scaled to boring data centers. So much for the modern-day pharaohs who are now watching the region go up in smoke.
The Line could have been one more man-made structure to be seen from space, but our alien friends still have plenty to view should they send a probe through the solar system (as some believe they have). While the pyramids can still be seen from space, the best way to be certain our planet is filled with life is to view it from its dark side. The evening light from our towns and cities cover the globe with recognizable patterns.
Our Awesome Universe 