Undersea data facility constructed by China
In a significant stride towards sustainability, China is set to launch an underwater data center off the coast of Shanghai, aimed at reducing cooling costs and addressing the challenges associated with traditional data centers. This innovative approach leverages the natural cooling properties of seawater to minimize energy consumption and mitigate environmental impacts.
The underwater data center, scheduled to begin operations in September, uses seawater pumped through radiators on server racks to absorb and dissipate heat. This method, known as natural ocean cooling, eliminates the need for traditional water-intensive cooling systems, significantly reducing the energy required for cooling. As a result, the facility is expected to use 30% less electricity compared to land-based data centers.
This reduction in energy consumption directly translates to lower operational costs, making the underwater data center a cost-effective solution. If the Shanghai project is successful, its makers plan to move rapidly to a larger-scale rollout, potentially influencing global computing infrastructure standards.
Other countries, such as South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, are also exploring similar concepts, indicating a broader interest in sustainable and innovative data center solutions. This trend could lead to a global shift towards more environmentally friendly data center technologies.
Meanwhile, in the realm of art, the Bethlem Museum of the Mind in London is hosting an exhibition showcasing art inspired by patients' dreams and nightmares. The exhibition, which features art from the 19th century to the present, includes works from various artists, including a piece drawn by an arsonist held in the "criminal lunatic department" between 1829 to 1838.
In the realm of politics, the Dutch climate minister has expressed doubts about the previous target of 50 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2040, considering it "not realistic". Meanwhile, the US tax-and-spending bill passed this month has curtailed tax credits for offshore wind projects, making them unaffordable. This development may impact the offshore wind industry's growth, making it vulnerable to supply chain constraints and price changes.
Elsewhere, the Chile-led "Latam-GPT" project is designed to include Indigenous languages and dialect variations, offering a localised version of ChatGPT trained on local languages and nuances. This initiative, involving more than 30 Latin American institutions, could help bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion in the region.
In other news, Australia sends asylum seekers to offshore processing facilities in Pacific island nations, while the US resumed deportation flights to "third countries", sending five migrants to the small Southern African nation of Eswatini. These practices have been criticised for their human rights implications.
The UK's previous government struck a deal to send migrants to Rwanda, but the plan cost more than $900 million and only four migrants were transferred. The US has previously sent deportees to El Salvador and South Sudan as part of its immigration crackdown.
In a more positive note, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's late mother created paintings during her stay at Bethlem's sister institution, demonstrating the healing power of art even in challenging circumstances.
These diverse developments highlight the complex interplay of technology, art, politics, and human rights in today's world. As we move forward, it is essential to prioritise sustainability, promote digital inclusion, and uphold human rights in all our endeavours.
Data-and-cloud-computing technology plays a significant role in China's innovative underwater data center, scheduled to begin operations in September, as it uses seawater for natural cooling to reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, and minimize environmental impacts, placing it as a cost-effective solution and potentially influencing global computing infrastructure standards.
In the realm of art, countries like South Korea, Japan, and Singapore are also exploring sustainable and innovative data center solutions, mirroring a broader global trend towards more environmentally friendly data center technologies, demonstrating the increasing importance of technology in addressing sustainability challenges.
