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Re:Microsoft's underwater data centre resurfaces after two y... by ericmay on Monday September 14, 2020 @11:40AM (#24471447)
Another question to ask is what the effect of pumping these data centers full of cold air is, and how the excess heat from that may be affecting the atmosphere.

Not to discredit your point or anything, it's a very good one. I think we just also have to answer it in conjunction with what we are currently doing. Maybe we can sink some data centers and have little to no impact while also realizing energy and cost savings?

Re:Microsoft's underwater data centre resurfaces after two y... by Wowfunhappy on Monday September 14, 2020 @11:42AM (#24471476)
Slightly off-topic, but this is how I feel when people discuss the risks of nuclear power. You can talk all you want about the disasterous consequences of a reactor meltdown, but what about the disastrous consequences of sticking with fossil fuels?

I agree that switching to wind and solar would be better, but it's not obvious whether we can switch without transforming the world economy in ways people seem unwilling to do. Nuclear reactors can generate much more energy, and I really think it’s time to get behind them.

Re:Microsoft's underwater data centre resurfaces after two y... by gzu on Monday September 14, 2020 @11:49AM (#24471560)
We need underwater, seaborne, or subsurface nuclear power plants.

Radiation release is contained to within the largest stratum available on the Earth: ocean and rock. Anything avoiding our thin atmosphere is a win.

Re:Microsoft's underwater data centre resurfaces after two y... by numpad0 on Monday September 14, 2020 @01:03PM (#24472454)
We need NPT dropped, that’s all it takes I think(given everyone can still be nice after which is a big if)
Re:Microsoft's underwater data centre resurfaces after two y... by cedex12 on Monday September 14, 2020 @02:00PM (#24473113)
the "non-proliferation treaty" ?
Re:Microsoft's underwater data centre resurfaces after two y... by numpad0 on Monday September 14, 2020 @02:32PM (#24473470)
Yes, nuclear isn’t hard, they’re so strictly regulated because there aren’t other dual use technology that are more controllable, destructive and easily repurposed by sufficiently advanced nations.

My personal opinion is that if we discover a more devastating weapon of some sort, such as kinetic bombardment using bunches of O'Neill space colonies as projectiles, nuclear becomes comparatively benign and that kinds of event can lead to more de-regulation.