Euthanasia Coaster
Hypothetical Euthanasia Device
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Dublin, Ireland
TIME PERIOD
2010
VICTIMS
24 confirmed
The Euthanasia Coaster is a conceptual design for a roller coaster intended to serve as a euthanasia device, conceived by Lithuanian artist Julijonas Urbonas in 2010. The design features a 500-meter lift and seven inversions, with the intent to induce death through prolonged cerebral hypoxia caused by extreme g-forces. While the concept has garnered attention for its controversial nature, it remains a hypothetical construct with no actual incidents or casualties associated with it. As of now, the Euthanasia Coaster has not been constructed or implemented in any amusement park, and it exists solely as an artistic and philosophical exploration of euthanasia. Investigative findings indicate that the project raises significant ethical questions regarding the intersection of art, technology, and end-of-life choices, but no legal actions or criminal investigations are currently underway.
The Euthanasia Coaster is theorized to serve as a means of euthanasia or execution, designed to provide a final experience of "elegance and euphoria" for its passengers. Some believe it reflects a philosophical exploration of death and the ethics surrounding assisted dying, while others see it as a critique of society's views on life and death. The concept raises speculation about the implications of such a device on public health policies and moral considerations in euthanasia debates.
The Euthanasia Coaster: A Hypothetical Journey to the End
In 2010, a vision both morbid and thought-provoking emerged from the mind of Julijonas Urbonas, a Lithuanian artist and PhD candidate at the Royal College of Art in London. This vision was not of a typical roller coaster, designed to thrill and excite, but a steel contraption with a singular, chilling purpose: to take the lives of its passengers. This creation, aptly named the Euthanasia Coaster, was conceptualized as a euthanasia device, a final ride that promised to deliver its passengers to death with what Urbonas described as "elegance and euphoria."
The Seeds of Inspiration
Urbonas, who had once worked in an amusement park, was inspired by the macabre words of John Allen, the former president of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Allen famously described the ultimate roller coaster as one that would "send out 24 people and they all come back dead." This idea planted the seeds for Urbonas's Euthanasia Coaster, envisioned to serve not only as a means of euthanasia but also as a method of execution.
Design of the Ultimate Ride
The Euthanasia Coaster's design begins with a formidable ascent, a steep 500-meter (1,600-foot) lift that mirrors the height of towering skyscrapers. For perspective, the tallest roller coaster ever built, Kingda Ka, peaks at just 139 meters (456 feet). This ascent would take several minutes, offering passengers time to reflect on their lives and, if they chose, to exit the ride before it embarked on its lethal journey. Should they decide to continue, they would press a button to confirm their choice, allowing them a final moment to say their last words.
Upon this confirmation, the train would plummet down the 500-meter drop, reaching a staggering speed of 360 kilometers per hour (220 mph), approaching terminal velocity. The ride would then flatten out, sending the train hurtling into the first of seven slightly clothoid inversions. Each inversion would decrease in diameter, maintaining a constant lethal force of 10 g on the passengers as the train gradually slowed. After enduring these inversions, the train would return to the station, where the deceased would be unloaded, and new passengers would board.
Mechanism of Mortality
The Euthanasia Coaster operates on a grim principle: prolonged cerebral hypoxia, or an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain, would be the method of death. The relentless 10 g force during the coaster's inversions would induce a series of physiological responses in the passengers, beginning with greyout and progressing through tunnel vision to blackout. Ultimately, passengers would experience g-force-induced loss of consciousness (g-LOC) and death. For those with particularly robust constitutions, a second run of the coaster could serve as a fail-safe to ensure the intended outcome.
The Coaster on Display
In 2012, the Euthanasia Coaster made its public debut at the HUMAN+ exhibition at the Science Gallery in Dublin. This exhibit was later lauded as the flagship exhibition of the year by the Science Gallery. The display served to highlight the complex issues surrounding life extension and the ethical considerations of euthanasia. The coaster also featured in the HUMAN+ exhibit at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona in 2015, continuing to provoke discussions on the future of human existence and mortality.
Cultural Reflections
The Euthanasia Coaster has found its way into popular culture, inspiring artistic interpretations and narratives. In 2012, the Norwegian rock group Major Parkinson released a digital single titled "Euthanasia Roller Coaster," with lyrics directly referencing Urbonas's creation. The concept also appeared in Sequoia Nagamatsu's novel "How High We Go in the Dark," published on January 18, 2022, where a similar roller coaster is used for children afflicted with an incurable plague. Furthermore, the 2023 television series "Mrs. Davis" featured a roller coaster as a method of ending one's life, echoing the chilling ingenuity of Urbonas's design.
Sources
For further exploration of the Euthanasia Coaster, visit the Wikipedia page: Euthanasia Coaster.
- Solon, Olivia. "The Future of the Human Species Explored." WIRED Science, 6 April 2011.
- Lamar, Cyriaqe. "The Euthanasia Coaster, the Last Roller Coaster You'll Ever Ride." Gawker Media, 18 April 2011.
- "Euthanasia Coaster." 2 October 2010.
- "A Rollercoaster Designed to Kill Humanely." DesignTaxi, 20 April 2011.
- Urbonas, Julijonas. "Julijonas Urbonas." julijonasurbonas.lt, 2010.
- "HUMAN+ The Future of Our Species." Trinity College Dublin, 1 February 2011.
- Sheridan, Cormac. "HUMAN+ Forecasting Our Future." NewScientist Culturelab, 15 April 2011.
- Gorman, Michael John. "HUMAN+ explores the technologically enhanced future of our species." Guardian News and Media Ltd, 22 April 2011.
- "Human+." CCCB.
- "Major Parkinson er tilbake." Bergensavisen, 23 July 2013.
- “Strap in for highs and lows with the pandemic novel 'How High We Go in the Dark'.” August 2024.
For multimedia and additional insights, explore the Wikimedia Commons media related to Euthanasia Coaster, and watch the computer-animated simulation of the ride.
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Concept Created
Julijonas Urbonas conceives the idea of the Euthanasia Coaster as a means of euthanasia.
First Exhibition
The Euthanasia Coaster is first displayed at the HUMAN+ exhibit in Dublin.
Barcelona Exhibition
The Euthanasia Coaster is showcased at the HUMAN+ exhibit in Barcelona.
Pop Culture Reference
Norwegian band Major Parkinson releases a single referencing the Euthanasia Coaster.
Novel Release
Sequoia Nagamatsu's novel features a euthanasia roller coaster for children.
Television Series
The series Mrs. Davis includes a roller coaster as a method of ending one's life.
The Euthanasia Coaster is a conceptual design for a roller coaster intended to serve as a euthanasia device, conceived by Lithuanian artist Julijonas Urbonas in 2010. The design features a 500-meter lift and seven inversions, with the intent to induce death through prolonged cerebral hypoxia caused by extreme g-forces. While the concept has garnered attention for its controversial nature, it remains a hypothetical construct with no actual incidents or casualties associated with it. As of now, the Euthanasia Coaster has not been constructed or implemented in any amusement park, and it exists solely as an artistic and philosophical exploration of euthanasia. Investigative findings indicate that the project raises significant ethical questions regarding the intersection of art, technology, and end-of-life choices, but no legal actions or criminal investigations are currently underway.
The Euthanasia Coaster is theorized to serve as a means of euthanasia or execution, designed to provide a final experience of "elegance and euphoria" for its passengers. Some believe it reflects a philosophical exploration of death and the ethics surrounding assisted dying, while others see it as a critique of society's views on life and death. The concept raises speculation about the implications of such a device on public health policies and moral considerations in euthanasia debates.
The Euthanasia Coaster: A Hypothetical Journey to the End
In 2010, a vision both morbid and thought-provoking emerged from the mind of Julijonas Urbonas, a Lithuanian artist and PhD candidate at the Royal College of Art in London. This vision was not of a typical roller coaster, designed to thrill and excite, but a steel contraption with a singular, chilling purpose: to take the lives of its passengers. This creation, aptly named the Euthanasia Coaster, was conceptualized as a euthanasia device, a final ride that promised to deliver its passengers to death with what Urbonas described as "elegance and euphoria."
The Seeds of Inspiration
Urbonas, who had once worked in an amusement park, was inspired by the macabre words of John Allen, the former president of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Allen famously described the ultimate roller coaster as one that would "send out 24 people and they all come back dead." This idea planted the seeds for Urbonas's Euthanasia Coaster, envisioned to serve not only as a means of euthanasia but also as a method of execution.
Design of the Ultimate Ride
The Euthanasia Coaster's design begins with a formidable ascent, a steep 500-meter (1,600-foot) lift that mirrors the height of towering skyscrapers. For perspective, the tallest roller coaster ever built, Kingda Ka, peaks at just 139 meters (456 feet). This ascent would take several minutes, offering passengers time to reflect on their lives and, if they chose, to exit the ride before it embarked on its lethal journey. Should they decide to continue, they would press a button to confirm their choice, allowing them a final moment to say their last words.
Upon this confirmation, the train would plummet down the 500-meter drop, reaching a staggering speed of 360 kilometers per hour (220 mph), approaching terminal velocity. The ride would then flatten out, sending the train hurtling into the first of seven slightly clothoid inversions. Each inversion would decrease in diameter, maintaining a constant lethal force of 10 g on the passengers as the train gradually slowed. After enduring these inversions, the train would return to the station, where the deceased would be unloaded, and new passengers would board.
Mechanism of Mortality
The Euthanasia Coaster operates on a grim principle: prolonged cerebral hypoxia, or an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain, would be the method of death. The relentless 10 g force during the coaster's inversions would induce a series of physiological responses in the passengers, beginning with greyout and progressing through tunnel vision to blackout. Ultimately, passengers would experience g-force-induced loss of consciousness (g-LOC) and death. For those with particularly robust constitutions, a second run of the coaster could serve as a fail-safe to ensure the intended outcome.
The Coaster on Display
In 2012, the Euthanasia Coaster made its public debut at the HUMAN+ exhibition at the Science Gallery in Dublin. This exhibit was later lauded as the flagship exhibition of the year by the Science Gallery. The display served to highlight the complex issues surrounding life extension and the ethical considerations of euthanasia. The coaster also featured in the HUMAN+ exhibit at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona in 2015, continuing to provoke discussions on the future of human existence and mortality.
Cultural Reflections
The Euthanasia Coaster has found its way into popular culture, inspiring artistic interpretations and narratives. In 2012, the Norwegian rock group Major Parkinson released a digital single titled "Euthanasia Roller Coaster," with lyrics directly referencing Urbonas's creation. The concept also appeared in Sequoia Nagamatsu's novel "How High We Go in the Dark," published on January 18, 2022, where a similar roller coaster is used for children afflicted with an incurable plague. Furthermore, the 2023 television series "Mrs. Davis" featured a roller coaster as a method of ending one's life, echoing the chilling ingenuity of Urbonas's design.
Sources
For further exploration of the Euthanasia Coaster, visit the Wikipedia page: Euthanasia Coaster.
- Solon, Olivia. "The Future of the Human Species Explored." WIRED Science, 6 April 2011.
- Lamar, Cyriaqe. "The Euthanasia Coaster, the Last Roller Coaster You'll Ever Ride." Gawker Media, 18 April 2011.
- "Euthanasia Coaster." 2 October 2010.
- "A Rollercoaster Designed to Kill Humanely." DesignTaxi, 20 April 2011.
- Urbonas, Julijonas. "Julijonas Urbonas." julijonasurbonas.lt, 2010.
- "HUMAN+ The Future of Our Species." Trinity College Dublin, 1 February 2011.
- Sheridan, Cormac. "HUMAN+ Forecasting Our Future." NewScientist Culturelab, 15 April 2011.
- Gorman, Michael John. "HUMAN+ explores the technologically enhanced future of our species." Guardian News and Media Ltd, 22 April 2011.
- "Human+." CCCB.
- "Major Parkinson er tilbake." Bergensavisen, 23 July 2013.
- “Strap in for highs and lows with the pandemic novel 'How High We Go in the Dark'.” August 2024.
For multimedia and additional insights, explore the Wikimedia Commons media related to Euthanasia Coaster, and watch the computer-animated simulation of the ride.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Concept Created
Julijonas Urbonas conceives the idea of the Euthanasia Coaster as a means of euthanasia.
First Exhibition
The Euthanasia Coaster is first displayed at the HUMAN+ exhibit in Dublin.
Barcelona Exhibition
The Euthanasia Coaster is showcased at the HUMAN+ exhibit in Barcelona.
Pop Culture Reference
Norwegian band Major Parkinson releases a single referencing the Euthanasia Coaster.
Novel Release
Sequoia Nagamatsu's novel features a euthanasia roller coaster for children.
Television Series
The series Mrs. Davis includes a roller coaster as a method of ending one's life.