For the fictional time-travelling vehicle, see time travel

A time capsule is a historic cache of goods and/or information, intended as a method of communication with people in the future. Time capsules are sometimes created and buried with much hoopla during celebrations such as a World Fair, cornerstone laying for a building or other event. Often, they are embedded in the cornerstone of a building as it is built—city hall, major sports arena, etc.

A time capsule is sometimes buried by an individual in a special place which will be dug up by a descendant.

Contents can include such things as newspapers, recordings, and memorabilia .

The International Time Capsule Society was created to maintain a global database of all existing time capsules.

The Crypt of Civilization at Oglethorpe University is generally regarded to be the first successful implementation of a time capsule. It is not scheduled to be opened until the year 8113.

Currently, two time capsules are "buried" in space. The Voyager Golden Record has been attached to two spacecraft for the benefit of spacefarers in the distant future. A third time capsule, the KEO satellite, will be launched in 2006, carrying individual messages from Earth's inhabitants addressed to earthlings around the year 52,000, when Keo will return to Earth.

External link

• Capturing Time: The New York Times Capsule; an American Museum of Natural History exhibition