Comments on: How to Protect World Cup Crowds From Blazing Sun? Carbon-Fiber Flying-Saucer Clouds

By: Amos Zeeberg (Discover Web Editor)

Amos Zeeberg (Discover Web Editor) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:27:08 +0000

Agree with you all that this seems a little silly. That’s part of why we blogged it here.

By: Tom (H. Type)

Tom (H. Type) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:42:22 +0000

Even a large, tethered, flat helium balloon that is re-positionable by the tethers being attached to rails would cheaper. Also more effective that a remote control Carbon fiber flying cloud.
Or as previously stated… “a covered stadium”, doesn’t have to be air conditioned.
I guess the simple solution is not sexy enough for FIFA.

By: Zora

Zora — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:06:26 +0000

I think this is in addition to a covered stadium, or at least I’ve read there are plans for that as well. (There were concerns that a covered, airconditioned stadium would still be overwhelmingly hot, hence my guess that this is in addition, rather than instead of.)

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:56:47 +0000

Why not just build a covered stadium? Also, the diagram is inaccurate. The shadow will not be larger than the object casting it. The sun’s distance from the earth is so great that the shadow of a floating object is the same size as the object, whether it’s 10 feet off the ground or a thousand. If they’re banking on their giant floating cloud having a shadow twice its size, they are going to be disappointed.