Trantor, Coruscant, and Beyond: The Science of Planet-Spanning Cities

What happens when a city doesn’t just sprawl across continents but covers an entire planet? In this episode of Entropy Rising, Jacob and Lucas explore the concept of the ecumenopolis—a world completely urbanized from pole to pole. From the classic depictions of Coruscant in Star Wars and Trantor in Foundation, to the grim hive cities of Warhammer 40K, we dig into the science and engineering challenges of building a planet-wide metropolis.

We break down population math, vertical megastructures, the paradox of elevators, and the role of food, energy, and infrastructure in making such a world function. But the real constraint isn’t space or even energy—it’s heat. Could a quadrillion humans cook their own planet just by existing? And what would it take to keep a city-planet from overheating?

If you’ve ever wondered whether Earth could become one massive city—or what life would be like inside a two-mile-tall building where generations never leave—this episode is for you.

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