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| Artist's rendition of SCP-C101. |
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Item #: SCP-C101
Object Class: Keter
Special Containment Procedures: Suppressing public knowledge of SCP-C101 has proven futile; thus, the current containment strategy entails adjusting popular conceptions of normalcy to account for SCP-C101. To this end, the Foundation is to fund civilian-run research into SCP-C101, with the aim of providing a scientific explanation of SCP-C101 that can be released to the public. In conjunction with this research, a variety of public relations initiatives have been launched to reaffirm the population's belief in science.
Description: SCP-C101 is an idea that abruptly appeared in the noosphere1 on April 23, 2021, and has remained there since. It is a static image of a brick tower several stories tall, lit from the upper left.
SCP-C101 is present in the psyche of every human; the average person recalls SCP-C101 once every two minutes of their own volition. It has proven impossible to dispel even with the use of amnestics and targeted countermemes. Apart from these facts, SCP-C101 appears to possess no unusual properties. It does not cause distress or impairment more than any other mild distraction and has a MICDI2 score of 0.12. SCP-C101 has no connotations beyond those ascribed to it by observers.
SCP-C101's manifestation has caused several worldwide changes in culture and cognition, including:
- All individuals can form a detailed mental image of SCP-C101 at will, including those who normally lack the ability to form mental images.
- SCP-C101 now routinely appears in media, art, and discussion.
- Memetics and noetics have become publicly recognized fields of study.
- Public faith in science, as an institution, has declined by 5-20%.3
- New religious movements and cults have been formed around SCP-C101.4
- All dreams now feature SCP-C101.
A full study of SCP-C101's impact on society is being conducted.
While no physical match for SCP-C101 has been found, it is most reminiscent of British water towers built in the 1930s. The single closest match to SCP-C101 is a set of blueprints produced in 1931 by architect Laurence Chambers (deceased), intended for construction in Cambridgeshire. Ultimately, a different design was used, and Chambers' blueprints were archived. No conclusive connection to SCP-C101 was established.
Addendum: Research proposals
The following table summarizes potential avenues of research that cannot be conducted through civilian proxies.
| Proposal | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Survey human-like intelligences in Foundation custody to determine SCP-C101's interactions with anomalies. | Approved | Indicates that SCP-C101 affects near-human entities in a similar fashion to baseline humans. Full report is available to personnel with 5/C101 clearance. |
| Develop and spread a memetic agent that suppresses discussion or depiction of SCP-C101. | Denied | This fails to advance understanding of SCP-C101, which is currently the containment directive. |
| Reverse-engineer SCP-C101's anomalous properties and use them to enhance SCP-████'s primary function. | Approved | Research is underway. Assuming success, the remainder of the proposal will be enacted if and when SCP-████-α complies. |
| Suggest to SCP-946-1 and -2 that SCP-C101 be discussed. | Approved | SCP-946-1 and -2 declined, citing a lack of insight into SCP-C101. |
| Perform a noonautic induction and explore SCP-C101 directly. | Denied | Approaching SCP-C101 would take place in full view of the world's entire population, causing an unacceptable breach of secrecy. |