Microsoft Establishes Data Center Deep in the Sea

MICROSOFT
MICROSOFT
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Microsoft Establishes Data Center Deep in the Sea

MICROSOFT
MICROSOFT

The US software and technology giant, Microsoft, has announced that a huge offshore data center was created near Scottish Orkney Island.

The data center is 40 meters long and is built as a submarine that can accommodate 864 server computers.

The center was mounted and tested in France and then transported to Scotland where it was installed on a triangular silicon base to place it on the seabed, according to DPA.

Microsoft said the center could work for 5 consecutive years without maintenance.

At the same time, it can rely on natural cooling to run these servers while under sea, while server computers found in conventional data centers on Earth consume large amounts of power to drive their cooling devices.

These deep sea centers are also designed to provide cloud computing services to coastal cities that are often affected by poor efficiency of high-speed internet.

There is also no possibility to repair any server computer in this offshore center, bu experts hope the degree of degradation of these devices will be lower than in conventional units on the earth's surface.



US Enters First Major Heat Wave of 2025

A chef takes a break to check his phone in a sliver of shade outside Union Station on August 12, 2016 in Washington,DC. Gabriella Demczuk / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
A chef takes a break to check his phone in a sliver of shade outside Union Station on August 12, 2016 in Washington,DC. Gabriella Demczuk / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
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US Enters First Major Heat Wave of 2025

A chef takes a break to check his phone in a sliver of shade outside Union Station on August 12, 2016 in Washington,DC. Gabriella Demczuk / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
A chef takes a break to check his phone in a sliver of shade outside Union Station on August 12, 2016 in Washington,DC. Gabriella Demczuk / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File

The United States is experiencing its first significant heat wave of the year, beginning Friday across the Great Plains and expanding into parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The extreme heat is expected to intensify as it shifts to the East Coast early next week, with temperatures reaching the highest level on the NWS's HeatRisk tool: Level 4, or "Extreme."

"Numerous daily record highs and warm lows are likely," the NWS said. "Light winds, sunny days, and a lack of overnight cooling will significantly increase the danger."

The capital city Washington could see highs of 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) on Monday and 101F on Tuesday, AFP said.

This level of heat can be dangerous for anyone without access to effective cooling and hydration, especially those engaged in prolonged outdoor activity, the NWS warns.

Designated cooling centers -- including recreation centers and libraries -- will be open during business hours, the mayor's office announced. Homeless residents will have access to shelters.

Overnight lows may remain around 80F in urban areas such as Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.

Fueled by human-caused climate change, 2024 was the warmest year on record globally -- and 2025 is projected to rank among the top three.