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Scientists Try to Keep Venice Above the Waves

Posted by timothy on from the water-wings-will-go-dearly dept.

batkins writes: "According to this article in Scientific American, the ancient city of Venice could disappear beneath the sea within a few decades. The Italian government has initiated a program called Moses to help prevent the loss of the great city. Venice has been slowly sinking for years, but industrial meddling with its groundwater has quickened the pace. Project Moses will begin this December."

15 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. Another Proublem by mageben · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I bet the seas rising due to global warming isn't helping either.

    -Ben

    --

    ---PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE---
    "Now, where's the damn 'any' key?"

  2. Yeah, but... by Dimwit · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Italian government has initiated a program called Moses to help prevent the loss of the great city.

    Yeah, but wouldn't Noah be a better name?

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    ...but it's being eaten...by some...Linux or something...
  3. No problem, just go to Vegas by 1qaz2wsx · · Score: 2, Funny

    What are they worried about, you can just go to
    Las Vegas to see Venice...

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    --- I would prefer a prehensile tail....
  4. Better Moses than Joshua by JUSTONEMORELATTE · · Score: 2, Informative

    Moses just had to go to the water to make it recede, Joshua had to get his feet wet before he saw results!

  5. Moses by Danse · · Score: 2, Funny

    And when project Moses fails to achieve its goal, project Noah will be put into action. A giant gondola will be built to carry the inhabitants of Venice to safety... and romance. ;)

    --
    It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
  6. The project is called MOSE by an_mo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ... not Moses. (MOdulo Sperimentale Elettromagnetico), i.e. Electromagnetic Experimental Module . Unfortunately I can't find a link to it, only a bunch of aricles like this in english

  7. Prolonging the inevitable by uncoveror · · Score: 3, Insightful

    They are only prolonging the inevitable. The ancient city of Venice will just have to be abandoned. If you try to fight nature, you will lose.

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    The Uncoveror: It's the real news.
    1. Re:Prolonging the inevitable by Snafoo · · Score: 2
      If you try to fight nature, you will lose.

      Tell that to smallpox.

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      - undoware.ca
    2. Re:Prolonging the inevitable by rpjs · · Score: 2

      Maybe it is, but by God, Venice is worth it, even if it buys a few more years. If you haven't been there, go.

    3. Re:Prolonging the inevitable by Debillitatus · · Score: 2
      If you try to fight nature, you will lose.

      True

      That's why we're still being eaten by saber-tooth tigers.

      --

      Come on, give it up, that's

  8. There'll be some fabulous diving when I retire by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 2

    Bangkok is sinking too.

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    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    1. Re:There'll be some fabulous diving when I retire by !splut · · Score: 2

      That would make for some pretty foul, polluted, toxic water. You might want to leave diving there to some lifeless submersibles.

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      --
      The angel in the oatmeal.
  9. Re:well whaddaya know.... by CaptainCarrot · · Score: 3, Interesting

    More like a modern Alexandria. At least we know Alexandria is real...

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    And the brethren went away edified.
  10. Insightful? Bah! by hey! · · Score: 2

    This is a huge government project to reverse a massive long term natural process. What's more, it is backed by the very politial and business interests whose practices accelerated the problem in the first place. The environmentalists should trust them this time.</sarcasm>

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    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  11. London had the same problem. But they fixed it. by Animats · · Score: 2
    The Thames Barrier was built in 1984 to deal with this problem. When necessary, which is about once or twice a year, huge gates are raised from the river bottom to block water surges up the Thames River.

    Similar schemes have been proposed for Venice for decades, but the city hasn't been able to get its act together on a project.