Technology & Innovation — November 13, 2010

Virtual Real-Estate Boom

The world’s largest virtual real-estate deal took place this week on Second Life, a virtual world where people spend real money. The fictitious property went for $335,000.

bigthinkeditor

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

While real estate prices are down across America, there is one place that’s booming. Just don’t count on the bank giving you a mortgage for these properties. They are completely fictional. A virtual real estate deal caught the eye of many this week when Jon Jacobs, an Entropia Universe user, made a record US$335,000 in a single sale. Jacobs sold his property on a fictitious asteroid to John Foma Kalun, known as “pesok” in the massively multiplayer online game. Jacobs, known online as Neverdie, sold part of his land this week for $5,000 more than the previous online property sale record of $330,000. Both records were set by Entropia Universe users.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

The Present

Interested in housing and real estate? Get started for only $30

This real estate training covers property management, construction cost estimation, social housing, and much more.

Guest Thinkers

Time to Pay Attention to the Virtual Economy

It may seem crazy but virtual real estate is hot business these days. Last week, British businessman Jon Jacobs sold his Neverdie club in the virtual game Entropia for $625,000, a […]

Person sitting at a dimly lit table with a laptop, using a smartphone. Another person is visible in the background. There are buildings and lights visible through the window.

Neuropsych

Are you a workaholic? How to spot the signs

In a major shift, psychologists now view an out-of-control compulsion to work as an addiction with its own set of risk factors and consequences.

A close-up view of a computer graphics card featuring an array of components, including capacitors, resistors, and a central processing chip, all mounted on a black circuit board.

The Future

The AI chip startup that could take down Nvidia

Just eight of Etched’s Sohu chips could replace 160 Nvidia GPUs.

Close-up of a mechanical watch face with exposed gears and intricate details, highlighted by gold and dark tones. The minute and second hands are visible.

Thinking

The perpetual quest for a truth machine

Why human attempts to mechanize logic keep breaking down.

Up Next

Technology & Innovation

The Clean Energy Mistake

Creating clean energy jobs is the wrong way to undo the recession, says Forbes’ Mark Mills. Today’s energy infrastructure represents a minor section of the American economy.