‘Space currency’ nonsense - October 08, 2007
According to some journalists who must have been particularly bored “scientists” have invented a new currency for “inter-planetary travelers” (BBC). In order to generate some free publicity, a firm which I’m deliberately not going to mention has come up with a poker chip with nice rounded edges “to avoid damaging people and equipment if accidentally allowed to float free in zero gravity”. In a master stroke of wit they’re calling it a Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination or QUID, which would only be funny to British citizens, if it were funny at all (press release).
Professor George Fraser from the University of Leicester is quoted as saying “Anything with sharp edges, like coins, would be a risk to astronauts while the chips and magnetic strips used in our cards on Earth would be damaged beyond repair by cosmic radiation.” I would have thought if you’re a space tourist and there’s enough cosmic radiation around to fry your credit card you’ve got bigger problems.
How on earth this made it onto the science section of a reputable website is beyond me. Wired seems to take a similar view. Apparently the going rate for a QUID is £6.25, although I’ll be surprised if anyone can actually find one to buy.
Comments
Alien life forms and the cia play a very interesting role in the new Quid money.Back in 1997 an alien life form was shot down by Africa air force.The alien was over the city of Phoenix,Arizona on March 13,1997.New world order needs a new currency.Scientologist and cia back in business again.Go to youtube.com and type in alien interview and judge for yourselves.
Posted by: Joseph Venuti | October 9, 2007 05:41 AM
For your sake, I hope all that stuff about the CIA and Scientology was a joke, Joespeh Venuti.
Posted by: Brizzle Wizzle, fo shizzle | October 11, 2007 05:36 PM
Interesting, but impractical. How will churches steal these QUIDs away from their spacesheep following?
Posted by: CJ | October 11, 2007 08:40 PM
They don't seem to have explained why existing paper money wouldn't work in space.
Posted by: Andrew Main | February 25, 2008 04:04 PM
"How on earth this made it onto the science section of a reputable website is beyond me." You've got a point, with web publishing being so costly... (that was sarcasm, by the way).
Posted by: marsupius | April 4, 2008 06:40 PM