Mark Zuckerberg has announced an ambitious plan to connect 5 billion people to the Internet. But he's not the only tech titan with big ideas.
Wacky projects from tech's biggest names —
Mark Zuckerberg has announced an ambitious plan to connect 5 billion people to the Internet. But he's not the only tech titan with big ideas.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Virgin Galactic chief Richard Branson says his fledgling commercial space company will have passengers blasting off by the end of 2013. More than 500 people have signed up for 2-hour flights. Tickets cost a sky-high $200,000 each.
Richard Branson's spaceship for tourists —
Virgin Galactic chief Richard Branson says his fledgling commercial space company will have passengers blasting off by the end of 2013. More than 500 people have signed up for 2-hour flights. Tickets cost a sky-high $200,000 each.
Virgin Galactic
The Internet giant is releasing 30 balloons from New Zealand's South Island. According to Google, "Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to connect people in rural and remote areas, help fill coverage gaps, and bring people back online after disasters."
Google's Internet-enabled balloons —
The Internet giant is releasing 30 balloons from New Zealand's South Island. According to Google, "Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to connect people in rural and remote areas, help fill coverage gaps, and bring people back online after disasters."
Google
Elon Musk founded PayPal, Tesla Motors and Space X. He's also the inspiration for the movie version of Iron Man. Now, he has released plans for the "Hyperloop", a super fast transport system consisting of pressurized, elevated tubes, that could cut the travel time from Los Angeles to San Francisco to 30 minutes, and cost a fraction of the currently proposed high speed rail project.
Elon Musk's Hyperloop —
Elon Musk founded PayPal, Tesla Motors and Space X. He's also the inspiration for the movie version of Iron Man. Now, he has released plans for the "Hyperloop", a super fast transport system consisting of pressurized, elevated tubes, that could cut the travel time from Los Angeles to San Francisco to 30 minutes, and cost a fraction of the currently proposed high speed rail project.
From Tesla Motors
Microsoft's founder thinks the toilet is key to improving health around the world. About 2.5 billion people don't have access to modern toilets, and experts say that's responsible for the death of 1.5 million children each year. <br />A year ago, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched a competition to create a new toilet. CalTech took home the $100,000 prize for its idea to create a solar-powered toilet that generates hydrogen and electricity.
Bill Gates' new toilet —
Microsoft's founder thinks the toilet is key to improving health around the world. About 2.5 billion people don't have access to modern toilets, and experts say that's responsible for the death of 1.5 million children each year.
A year ago, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched a competition to create a new toilet. CalTech took home the $100,000 prize for its idea to create a solar-powered toilet that generates hydrogen and electricity.
AFP/Getty Images
Amazon.com's founder has poured at least $42 million into a project called "The 10,000 Year Clock," which will be built into a mountain on his West Texas property and tick once every year. A cuckoo will come out every millennium. Although the clock doesn't have a practical purpose, the Long Now Foundation, which is building the clock hopes it will encourage long-term thinking about how to protect humanity's future.
Jeff Bezos' 10,000-year cuckoo clock —
Amazon.com's founder has poured at least $42 million into a project called "The 10,000 Year Clock," which will be built into a mountain on his West Texas property and tick once every year. A cuckoo will come out every millennium. Although the clock doesn't have a practical purpose, the Long Now Foundation, which is building the clock hopes it will encourage long-term thinking about how to protect humanity's future.
JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages