With Atomfall coming to Xbox and Game Pass in just over a month (arriving on March 27), today we released the latest trailer for the game. Featuring brand new gameplay, the trailer highlights the main features that you will experience when you enter the quarantine zone.I thought now would be a good time to give you more information on some of the games key features and what you can expect when you play Atomfall. For those who havent had chance to see the trailer yet, take a look:The trailer starts at the very beginning of the game. You wake up in a dark and eerie bunker and are met by a wounded man in a hazmat suit who immediately asks who you are and asks for your help. The problem is you dont know who you are, or how you got there.He tells you that you are inside a quarantine zone, built around the Windscale Atom plant following a nuclear disaster.Set in the luscious British countryside in 1962, Atomfall is a fictionalised telling of what happened five years after true events in Northern England. It is a game about investigation and discovery as you try to uncover the mystery behind what really happened at Windscale, but also who you are and what youre doing there.There is plenty to explore beyond the rolling hills of Cumberland, including a picturesque village, bandit camps, caves, tunnels, and mysterious buildings and facilities left abandoned by the British Atomic Research Division. All of these will hold their own secrets for you to discover.You will find clues about what has happened and learn more about the colourful characters you meet along the way but there is no clear single truth, and different people interpret what happened in different ways. This feeds into the games Leads system, our new take on traditional gaming quests.Some information that you uncover will open a Lead in the game. You can choose to track this down to uncover further secrets and hopefully get closer to some form of the truth. All the Leads in the game are completely optional, and all connect in one way or another to the larger mystery. As a result, the path you take through the game and the storyline is entirely up to you.Another source of Leads is the cast of characters you will meet along the way. One of the first you may meet is Nat Buckshaw, who you find playing his guitar in the ruins of an old house. He is an extremely talkative chap and more than happy to give away everything he knows just to have someone to talk to.However, with Nat and indeed everyone you meet along the way, you can never be sure who to trust and whether they are trying to use you for their own means.Some characters also act as Traders, for example Molly the Tinker, who can be found in the Dale. In fact, one of the Leads that Nat provides, helps you to find Molly. Resources are scarce in Atomfall, and money is useless, so all trade is done by barter striking a good deal with a trader can be vitally important. Each of them will prize different sorts of assets. One may want food and bandages, while another needs weapons. Careful observation and making a balanced trade will enable you to get the resources you need to survive.One valuable tool you can trade for is the metal detector (you can either find one as you search the countryside or barter for one.) The metal detector is a vital asset as you scavenge for further resources. Atomfall is as much a game of survival as it is exploration the resources, weapons and ammo you find will be vital if you are to find out what happened at the Windscale nuclear plant.To aid you in the hunt for resources, youll be able to find metal detectors. Once you have one, you will hear it beep as you come within range of something to find. You then need to equip it and use it to find your treasure whether that be some scrap metal, medical supplies or ammunition.And youll need all the ammunition you can find supplies are tight! Gangs of bandits litter the countryside, and they will think nothing of attacking on sight. Whether you choose to engage or run for cover is your choice but there are likely to be times when you will have no choice but to fight.Raising a gun to someone who is only armed with a melee weapon may well be enough for them to be the one who retreats. Whether your gun is loaded or not, only you will knowNo matter what, you will need to be ready to adjust your strategy on the fly, using all the tools at your disposal to make it out alive. Melee combat, both armed and unarmed, will be vital. Sometimes, aiming a swift kick at an opponent in order to stagger them back is all the time you have to reload, and can be a life saver.You are going to have to find ways to adapt and make do with what you have as you track down leads in the search of the truth or at least one version of it.We have only scratched the surface of the challenges, mystery and intrigue you discover in the quarantine zone. We cannot wait for you to get your hands on Atomfall when it launches on Game Pass as well as on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC on March 27.AtomfallRebellionGet it nowA survival-action game inspired by real-life events, Atomfall is set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England.Explore the fictional quarantine zone, scavenge, craft, barter, fight and talk your way through a British countryside setting filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies.From Rebellion, the studio behind Sniper Elite and Zombie Army, Atomfall will challenge you to solve the dark mystery of what really happened.Player Driven Mystery: Unravel a tapestry of interwoven narratives through exploration, conversation, investigation, and combat, where every choice you make has consequences.Search, Scavage, Survive: Youll need to scavenge for supplies, craft weapons and items, and fight desperately to make it out alive!Desperate Combat: With weapons and ammunition scarce, each frenetic engagement will see you blend marksmanship with vicious hand-to-hand combat. Manage your heart rate to hold a steady aim and ensure you have the energy you need to reach for your cricket bat and land the killer blow.Green and Unpleasant Land: The picturesque British countryside, with rolling green hills, lush valleys, and rural villages belie the dangers that await you. Navigate cult-controlled ruins, natural caves, nuclear bunkers and more as you explore this dense, foreboding world.Reimagining Windscale: A fictional reimagining of a real-world event, Atomfall draws from science fiction, folk horror, and Cold War influences to create a world that is eerily familiar yet completely alien.

With its Old World apartment buildings and brownstones, its coffeeshops, bookstores, and bakeries, the Upper West Side of Manhattan is not usually thought of as a hotbed of avant-garde creativity. Camille Henrot, a French artist whose bronze sculptures are currently showcased in a one-person exhibition at the Hauser & Wirth gallery in Manhattan, admits that the neighborhood was an unlikely choice. In the 11 years I lived in New York, I think I was on the Upper West Side maybe once, she says. But the moment I stepped into this apartment, I had a crush on the view.Her husband, acclaimed composer and sound artist Mauro Hertig, who performs as Xol Meissner, notes that the area, with its parks and quiet streets, is ideal for their two young sons and dog. Theres constant movement on the Hudson, he says. The view is great for the boys, especially when the big boats go by. Its like a megahighwaybut slow.Jesper LundMauro Hertig (left) and Camille Henrot in the living room of their Manhattan apartment with their dog Schoggi. To update the space, which had not been renovated in decades, a friend suggested Husband Wife, a firm known for its refined, elegantly detailed work. Its founders, Justin Capuco and Brittney Hart, knew that working with two such innovative talents might be challenging. Capuco says, For sure, we were intimidated. Hart adds, We had to navigate the differing needs and desires of a highly creative couple. But we are a creative couple. So we understand the nuances of that.We had to navigate the differing needs and desires of a highly creative couple.They all struggled with how to adapt the layout until the designers proposed the dramatic idea of transforming the living room into the boys bedroom and play area, and tearing down walls to create an expansive living room, dining area, and open kitchen. To address Hertigs fear that at his heightsix feet, five incheshe might feel a bit claustrophobic in the space, the designers pointed out that softening the angular beams and posts with gentle curves would give the illusion of more height and air.Now a curved sofa seems to snuggle into the corner of the living room, the perfect spot from which to enjoy those killer views. Next to it sits a unique fireplace designed by Adam Charlap Hyman. The co-founder of the ELLE DECOR A-List firm Charlap Hyman & Herrero met Henrot years ago, when both were featured in an exhibition, and he was inspired by the famous tile fireplace that Robert Winthrop Chanler designed for Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in 1917. Even the kitchen is unexpected. The cabinetry swoops and curves, the bronze hardware was cast in shapes that resemble punctuation marks, and the counters are higher than standard to accommodate Hertig, who says, proudly, I do most of the cooking.The designers also collaborated with Charlap Hyman to create for the boys a magical room that evokes the folksy charm of a Swiss cuckoo clock, complete with a mysterious grotto straight out of a Hardy Boys novel.Tour Camille Henrot and Mauro Hertig's Manhattan ApartmentColor was another challenge. Camille and Mauro originally wanted more dramatic colors, Hart says. Hertig adds, We completely underestimated the light. Now the main areas are painted in a warm, peachy cream. But vivid shades do appear. A guestroom has vibrant red walls and curtains; the adjacent bath features sage porcelain tiles. The pale pistachio primary bedroom has its own burgundy bath with a fossil stone counter. We call it our vampire bath, Henrot jokes.Throughout, custom pieces mix with vintage furnishings, many from Henrots mother, an artist she credits with inspiring her sensibility. In her work, which deals with bodies, beasts, and the primal bonds between mother and child, Henrot moves from film to sculpture to painting. Similarly, she sees no rigid distinction between her art and items she creates for her home. Just as she works in bronze for her sculptures, she also uses the material for decorative objects including hardware and the living rooms impressive cocktail table, her first furniture design. She also designed the rooms rug, based on one of her watercolors.Jesper LundThe primary bedroom is painted in Sprout by Sherwin Williams and the artwork is by Mai Thu Perret.Small niches throughout showcase her sculptures, and the walls are hung with her own art and pieces by friends like Elizabeth Jaeger, Misha Kahn, and Greg Carideo.The result is an apartment that serves day-to-day practicalities even as it celebrates the ineffable and magical. Brittney and Justin were ideal partners, Hertig says. Hart adds, If there werent a deadline, we would still be collaborating. This story originally appeared in the March 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBE

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.Every renter knows that breaking a lease is usually far more trouble than its worth. But when you find that dream real estate listing, all sense flies out the window. Thats exactly what happened to Delaney Rowe, an actress and comedian whose inventive writing has earned her a massive TikTok following. She had recently settled into an apartment in West Hollywood (where you live when you havent decided what LA neighborhood feels like you, Rowe quips), but found herself spending all her time on the East Side. The trip across the city every weekend was a slog, but she had resigned herself to endure it until her lease was up. Then a casual scroll through Craigslist brought her an unexpected dream: a sprawling loft right in Echo Park, in a converted office building where she had once applied for a job a decade before. It was fate, she says. I saw it the next dayme and a bunch of brosand I won out.Yasara GunawardenaRowes gallery wall features a mix of self-made and purchased art. A vintage telescope nearby invites dinner guests to stargaze between courses.Rowe had long dreamed of living in a loft and the location was ideal, but what ultimately convinced her that the move was worth it was how well the apartment would work for entertaining. Its something I take great pride in, she says. Rowe asked herself: Could she throw a dinner party for more than 16 in the space? Could friends relax and carry on a conversation while she was in the kitchen? Could the loft feel as cozy for two as it did for 20? The answer to all of these questions, and more, was a resounding yes.I like when a home is collected over time. I wanted this space to evolve with me.The apartments well-appointed kitchen was an immediate draw. I finally could have a dishwasher and a garbage disposal, everything you spend your twenties living without, Rowe says. She has three refrigerators: One for food, one for wine, and a hangover fridge stocked with Gatorade, water, and tequila (hair of the dog.) Its all for her friends. As much as I am buying gold salt and pepper shakers for myself, I'm buying them because I want people to come to my house for dinner and then see them on the table and get excited about that and, you know, be enchanted by the evening, she says. Yasara GunawardenaRowes collected approach to interiors extends to her entryway storage.Yasara GunawardenaRowe likens the shelves to her own bookstore, shopping them when its time for her next read.Yasara GunawardenaThe apartment has three refrigerators, one for food, one for wine, and one for hangover cures.Yasara GunawardenaKitchen storage features ample dinnerware and wine glasses ensuring theres enough for another plus-one.The apartment was not without its quirks. It had been an open-plan office, so there were no walls. Rowes bedroom is delineated by a black accent wall and sectioned off from the dining area with a woven room divider. The wall next to her dining area is a functional garage door, which she opens on warm nights when her friends are around. The rest of her decor is defined by soft colors, warm neutrals, and plush textures. Rowe took pains to avoid the I-bought-everything-in-one-go look. I like when a home is collected over time, she says. I wanted this space to evolve with me.Yasara GunawardenaEvery surface in Rowes kitchen is optimized for entertaining, down to the cake stand always full of treats.Yasara GunawardenaRowes sanctuary of a bedroom, separated from the dining room by a woven screen.And it has. The open shelving showcases notes from brands shes worked with, fashion show invites, and framed text messages from friends, while a mix of self-made and collected art line the expansive walls. Other than her sentimental items, Rowe barely brought any pieces over from her former apartment. Looking for a fresh start, she began an exhaustive hunt for both vintage and new items to fill the loft, starting with a Sixpenny sectional. Nothing in the space is too precious. I dont want people to worry about taking their shoes off or spilling wine, she says. That level of comfort and not worrying about being careful in a space is really important to me.Yasara GunawardenaThe former office has the kitchen as the central point of the entire apartment, a layout Rowe was immediately drawn to.I designed this apartment to relax me and be comfortable for when I need a bit of downtime.A true creative entrepreneur, Rowe splits her time between this apartment and a studio in Manhattan. She had always aspired to live in New York but quickly fell in love with Los Angeles when she was in college at USC. I live in LA when I need to recover, she explains. I designed this apartment to relax me and be comfortable for when I need a bit of downtime. This home is where she sees friends, spends the holidays, and takes care of herself, and that restorative energy is reflected in the interiors. New York is for work events, sparks of inspiration, and unmatched creative energy. Yasara GunawardenaA closer look at Rowes eclectic gallery.Yasara GunawardenaText messages from friends and sentimental brand invites adorn the bedroom shelves.Yasara GunawardenaRowes own cross-stitch.Yasara GunawardenaAn antique bedroom trunk offers a rare closed storage opportunity.But for all the attention shes lavished on the apartment when Rowe hosts, she focuses on the experience rather than the space. Sure, setting the perfect table and cooking the perfect meal all get you hostess points, but for Rowe, having guests linger and forge new bonds is much more crucial to a good party. Her kitchen shelves are filled with stacked wine glasses and coups, enough for each one of her friends and a few unexpected (but always welcome) extras. She equates the evolution of this apartment to Kevin Costners mantra in Field of Dreams: If you build it, they will come.Yasara GunawardenaThe dining room bench can be moved to accommodate more dinner guests.SHOP DELANEY'S SPACESMEG Retro Style ToasterShop at AmazonAbundness Throw BlanketShop at EtsySixpenny Neva SectionalShop at SixpennyMatisse Blue Nude III PrintShop at desenio

Apple has resumed advertising on Elon Musks X social network as of this week. Apple had halted all advertising on X back in November 2023 after Musk agreed with an antisemitic post on the platform. As spotted by 9to5Mac reader Colin on Wednesday afternoon, Apple is currently running an ad campaign on X touting Safaris focus on privacy. Safari helps keep your personal data safe, the ad reads. Apple is running a similar campaign on other social media platforms, such as Instagram. The Apple TV account is also running X ads promoting Severance. Apple hasnt addressed its decision-making process for resuming advertising on X. Apple CEO Tim Cook, however, has a close relationship with President Trump and attended the inauguration last month alongside Elon Musk. I dont think its a huge stretch to conclude that Musk broached the topic of X advertising directly with Cook. Apples initial decision to halt advertising on X in November 2023 came after Elon Musk himselfbackedan antisemitic tweet that accused Jewish communities of pushing dialectical hatred against whites. You have said the actual truth, Musk tweeted then. After that post, other companies, including Disney, IBM, and Comcast, also halted advertising on X. In an interview shortly after those companies halted X advertising, Musk said: I hope they stop. Dont advertise. If someones going to try and blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with moneygo fu*k yourself.Go fu*k yourself. Is that clear?Disney, Comcast, and IBM all resumed advertising on X in November 2024. Now, Apple is joining in. My favorite iPhone 16 accessories:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple Maps has quietly expanded its support for cycling in the United Kingdom and Ireland this week. Users are discovering they can now route cycling journeys across the length and the breadth of the country.Apple first launched cycling directions in Maps in late 2020, although at first it was U.S only in a smattering of cities. Support for cycling navigation in the UK has been available for a while, but coverage was patchy until now.With the recent backend update, Apple Maps app users can now plot full cycling journeys across the UK. Apple Maps cycling directions include warnings for steep hilly zones and highlights sections along the route where walking on the footpath may be required. It also knows about unpaved road areas, which may be uncomfortable to travel on a bike.To start a cycling route, simply select the bicycle icon in the Directions panel inside Apple Maps. You can additionally request to avoid busy roads, or hills. The planned route includes a preview of elevation, distance and ETA. Unlike automobile navigation, Apple Maps cycling directions do not support multiple stop routes.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Feb 13, 2025The Hacker NewsApplication Security / DevOpsEver felt like your team is stuck in a constant battle? Developers rush to add new features, while security folks worry about vulnerabilities. What if you could bring both sides together without sacrificing one for the other?We invite you to our upcoming webinar, "Opening the Fast Lane for Secure Deployments." This isn't another tech talk full of buzzwordsit's a down-to-earth session that shows you practical ways to build security into your projects from the start.Many teams face a familiar problem: security checks at the end slow things down, but rushing ahead can leave dangerous gaps. It's not about choosing between fast or safeit's about finding a way to do both.Join Sarit Tager, VP of Product Management at Palo Alto Networks, as he explains how to:Focus on What Matters: Learn how to spot and fix the most critical issues early.Work Without Roadblocks: See how to add smart security steps without stopping progress.Think Differently: Move from the old "fix it later" idea to building security into every step from day one.Imagine a project where your team works in sync. Instead of scrambling at the end, every line of code is secure from the beginning. Fewer delays, less stress, and a smoother path to launching your next big update.If you're a developer, security specialist, or team leader juggling deadlines and safe practices, this webinar is made for you. It's a chance to learn simple, clear strategies that help everyone winfaster code that's built on a solid, secure foundation.Say goodbye to endless compromises and hello to a workflow that values both speed and safety.Register Now for "Opening the Fast Lane for Secure Deployments" Let's work smarter togetherbecause your code deserves to be both fast and secure.Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Feb 13, 2025Ravie LakshmananNetwork Security / VulnerabilityPalo Alto Networks has addressed a high-severity security flaw in its PAN-OS software that could result in an authentication bypass.The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-0108, carries a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10.0. The score, however, drops to 5.1 if access to the management interface is restricted to a jump box."An authentication bypass in the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software enables an unauthenticated attacker with network access to the management web interface to bypass the authentication otherwise required by the PAN-OS management web interface and invoke certain PHP scripts," Palo Alto Networks said in an advisory."While invoking these PHP scripts does not enable remote code execution, it can negatively impact the integrity and confidentiality of PAN-OS."The vulnerability affects the following versions -PAN-OS 11.2 < 11.2.4-h4 (Fixed in >= 11.2.4-h4)PAN-OS 11.1 < 11.1.6-h1 (Fixed in >= 11.1.6-h1)PAN-OS 11.0 (Upgrade to a supported fixed version as it has reached end-of-life status on November 17, 2024)PAN-OS 10.2 < 10.2.13-h3 (Fixed in >= 10.2.13-h3PAN-OS 10.1 < 10.1.14-h9 (Fixed in >= 10.1.14-h9)Searchlight Cyber/Assetnote security researcher Adam Kues, who is credited with discovering and reporting the flaw, said the security defect has to do with a discrepancy in how the interface's Nginx and Apache components handle incoming requests, resulting in a directory traversal attack.Palo Alto Networks has also shipped updates to resolve two other flaws -CVE-2025-0109 (CVSS score: 5.5) - An unauthenticated file deletion vulnerability in the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS management web interface that enables an attacker with network access to the management web interface to delete certain files as the "nobody" user, including limited logs and configuration files (Fixed in PAN-OS versions 11.2.4-h4, 11.1.6-h1, 10.2.13-h3, and 10.1.14-h9)CVE-2025-0110 (CVSS score: 7.3) - A command injection vulnerability in the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS OpenConfig plugin that enables an authenticated administrator with the ability to make gNMI requests to the PAN-OS management web interface to bypass system restrictions and run arbitrary commands (Fixed in PAN-OS OpenConfig Plugin version 2.1.2)To mitigate the risk posed by the vulnerability, it's highly advised to disable access to the management interface from the internet or any untrusted network. Customers who do not use OpenConfig can either choose to disable or uninstall the plugin from their instances.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

The enormous growth of data centers and the vast amounts of energy they consume is a global concern. Yet no place is more emblematic of this challenge than Northern Virginia. Its Data Center Alley is Ground Zero for questions about how to power the data requirements of the 21st century.About 70% of the worlds internet traffic flows through data centers in the region. Facilities accommodate firms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, Meta, Microsoft and Verizon. The region, particularly Northern Virginia and Loudoun County, has become an epicenter for high-speed connectivity and data storage.AI and data are becoming a bigger part of everyones lives, observes Suhas Subramanyam, an attorney and former member of the Virginia Senate who is an incoming representative for the states 10th US Congressional district. Were going to need to build more data centers but there are growing concerns about how the process takes place.As power demands escalate and new and larger facilities come online, one of the biggest questions is where all the needed energy will come from -- and how much carbon will it contain? Yet there are also worries about rate increases for consumers, environmental impacts and how these facilities are changing the character of neighborhoods.Related:Surging DemandThe need to dial up energy to data centers is indisputable. According to a September 2024 report from McKinsey & Company, power requirements for these facilities will triple by the end of the current decade. Today, data centers draw somewhere between 3% to 4% of total power but the figure will hit 12% by 2030, the consultancy noted. Overall electrical demand could swell by 27% by 2050, according to online data service Statistica.Power-hungry GPUs are increasingly the culprit. These chips -- critical for training and inferencing artificial intelligence models, including generative AI -- pull about 10 times the energy of CPUs. They are driving the need for larger and more power-intensive data centers, observes Gillian Crossan, risk advisory principal and global technology leader at Deloitte. This has implications for both power and water.Data centers arent the only culprit, however. Demand for electricity has continued to rise as heating and cooling systems have become electrified, electric vehicles (EVs) have steered into the mainstream, and manufacturing firms have adopted robots and other advanced digital systems, says Jeffrey Shields, senior manager for external communications at PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in the eastern US.Related:In Northern Virginia, which benefits from its proximity to the government and business infrastructure of the nations capital, the strain of keeping up with rapidly growing power demand is mounting. A modern data center typically consumes as much energy as 80,000 households annually and pulls power at a rate of 10 to 50 times greater than the equivalent floor space of a commercial office building, according to the US Department of Energy.Current EventsIt isnt as simple as adding capacity to the grid. The enormous spike in electricity demand collides with Virginias commitment to move to sustainable power. The Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) mandates 100% carbon-free electricity across the state by 2050. Dominion Energy, Virginias largest utility, is scrambling to meet these requirements by 2045. However, its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan raises questions about how it will achieve these goals (Dominion did not respond to multiple requests for an interview).To keep up with peak load demand, Dominion estimates that it will need to double its grid capacity over the next 10 to 20 years. The utility has proposed a broad energy portfolio that adds both conventional and sustainable energy sources. The planned upgrades -- including a series of natural gas plants -- will require billions of dollars and could lead to rate increases that could hit 50% by 2039. At present, bills are increasing at about 2.5% annually.Related:State regulators already added a $15 per month fuel surcharge in September 2024, though current utility rates are set until the end of 2025. After that, the average power bill of $202 per month could spike.Consumer groups are taking notice. There is going to be a reckoning, states Julie Bolthouse, director of land use for Piedmont Environmental Council, a 501(c)(3) organization. Its questionable whether the current energy model can continue to function effectively.In fact, Bolthouse believes there are more questions than answers. Dominion has signed contracts to supply energy without clear proof it can acquire the energy or build out the infrastructure, she says. In addition, the data centers are pushing land prices up and changing the character of region. They are encroaching on neighborhoods, parks and other infrastructure, Bolthouse adds.Power PlaysThe challenge of balancing power demands with sustainability goals isnt going to disappear anytime soon. PJM Interconnection, which oversees power transmissions for over 65 million people across 13 states and Washington, D.C., has recommended slowing the retirement of gas and coal facilities until other sources of energy can completely fill the gap.Of course, any delay in transitioning to low-carbon or no-carbon electricity could undermine reduction targets for Virginia as well as the companies operating data centers. Many of these firms have made commitments that are visible in ESG reports and other documents. Worse, it increases long-term risks related to climate change. On the other hand, PJM warns that retiring generation facilities before viable replacements are in place could result in a supply crunch.Amid all the wrangling over energy supply, companies operating data centers must also become more efficient, Deloittes Crossan says. This includes focusing on design and performance gains possible through the expanded use of immersion cooling, battery storage, on-site renewables and emerging technology such as small modular nuclear reactors, which deliver zero-carbon energy. At the same time, a move to collaborative land-use planning can help align development with community needs, Bolthouse says.Government officials and others must also reassess current policies, including tax incentives and subsidies, Subramanyam argues. We need to better understand the impact data centers have on communities. Its unclear if we can keep up with the energy demand because, in some cases, the concentration of data centers in one area is too high and we may not be able to protect rate payers, he says. No one disputes the need for these facilities, but we have to meet commitments to clean energy and the public.

Over the past decade, corn and soybeans arent the only things sprouting from fertile Iowa soil. Data centers have been popping up with growing regularity. Tech giants like Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft have flocked to the Hawkeye State due to ample land, low energy costs, minimal earthquake risk, and generous tax incentives.But as climate change accelerates and water tables drop in some regions, a critical debate is surfacing. Groundwater in Iowa is not evenly distributed. Data centers in one place can be very different than in another, observes Keith Schilling, state geologist and director of the Iowa Geological Survey at the University of Iowa.Not surprisingly, the growing demand for water is trickling into policy, consumption patterns, environmental impacts and costs. Amid competing demands -- agriculture, business and residential use -- Iowa officials are taking notice. With increased demand and continued drought, aquifers arent being recharged as they were in the past, Schilling notes.Into the FlowAt present, 34 data centers exist across Iowa. Each day, these facilities consume somewhere between 300,000 gallons and 1.25 million gallons of water for cooling. At any given location, they typically account for about 2% to 8% of total water consumption -- though some facilities have agreements to use more water, if necessary.Related:Much of this water comes from underground aquifers. Under normal circumstances, theres sufficient rainfall to support agriculture, manufacturing and home use, but for more than a decade most of the state has endured a drought. This has translated into a need to pump additional water for crops, food processing, and ethanol production. According to Iowa Environmental Council, some wells are now operating at 20% of their original capacity.To be sure, the water situation varies considerably across the state -- and even within regions. For example, the state is bounded by the Missouri River and Mississippi River and other waterways run through Iowa. The eastern third of the state has abundant shallow carbonate aquifers that are recharged every year with precipitation, Schilling says. In central and western Iowa, the conditions are less favorable. The groundwater systems are shallower and more vulnerable.Twenty of the states data centers are in the Des Moines area, which is near the center of Iowa. So far, this part of the state has avoided problems associated with droughts and water shortages. But as newer facilities come online, water consumption increases and drought lingers, questions about water availability are growing -- particularly in more vulnerable areas in the western part of the state.Related:In many cases, companies looking to build data centers are using criteria other than water availability to select a site, Schilling says. They are often more interested in the surrounding infrastructure.Beneath the SurfaceBalancing water use across agriculture, manufacturing firms and tech companies -- while keeping rates down for residential users -- is a balancing act based in both economics and sustainability. When fixed costs can be spread amongst more users, everyone experiences lower rates -- including residential customers, says Roy Hesemann, utilities director for Cedar Rapids.Located toward the eastern portion of the state -- adjacent to the Cedar River -- the city has sufficient water and energy resources to support major data centers, Hesemann says. Cedar Rapids recently approved a $576 million Google data center that will use 200,000 to 1 million gallons of water daily and pull 25 megawatts of electricity. The project will generate $1 billion in local property taxes over 20 years (with about $529 million flowing back to Google).Related:The facility wont place additional pressure on supply or impact water standards. However, It will require us to accelerate timelines for planned expansion at the Northwest Water Treatment Plant to meet future capacity needs, Hesemann says. For now, the citys water rates rank in the middle for Iowa. Gaining additional efficiency is important. The city is exploring ways to reuse water, including discharge from data centers.Google is planning another $1 billion data center in Council Bluffs, which sits in the more arid western portion of the state. Once completed, the facility will add capacity to two other facilities built in 2012 and 2015. The expansion will result in a total of three datacenters that comprise nearly 3 million square feet of space split among 3 buildings. Google has invested over $5 billion in the region since 2007.Although these projects make economic sense, observers such as Schilling are taking notice and advocating for a better understanding of how data centers impact water consumption in Iowa. With ongoing drought conditions and growing demand for limited water resources, some aquifers are not being recharged adequately, he explains. Some areas may not be ideal locations for data centers.Data StreamsThe Iowa legislature is taking notice. In 2024, it designated $250,000 to map aquifers and study groundwater levels to gain a better understanding of how various user groups -- including data centers -- impact recharge rates and water levels. Governor Kim Reynolds described the funding as crucial for the development of models for budgeting this state's water resources."A growing dependence on data centers may be cause for concern, but digital technologies might also provide answers for Iowa. In July 2021, Iowa State University announced that it had landed $20 million grant from the US federal government to establish an AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture. It is developing digital twins, robotics, drones and connected field sensors that reduce water and chemical use while boosting crop yields.It makes sense for companies to establish data centers and other facilities in Iowa because of land availability, water resources, financial incentives and renewable energy, says Soumik Sarkar, a professor of mechanical engineering and computer science at Iowa State University. At the same time, we have witnessed a 20% to 30% increase in water demand for large AI companies and the state is coping with a drought. So, we must find ways to manage resources better.Another five-year, $7 million federal government funded project called COALESCE (COntext Aware LEarning for Sustainable CybEr-agricultural systems) is helping researchers at Iowa State University study ways to embed digital technologies, including AI, deeper into the food production system. AI and other tools can help us optimize processes, reduce pesticides and pollution and maximize our water systems, Sarkar states.Its important to understand how data centers and existing infrastructure impact water use -- and aquifers in Iowa, Schilling says. We dont want to reach a point where shortages occur, and people claim that the situation has taken them by surprise. We have the technology and tools to manage water resources effectively. We must use them to determine where to locate data centers and other facilities.

All jobs Senior Software Engineer Posted A few minutes ago Rendered Text is a software company making Semaphore, a continuous delivery service at the forefront of an ongoing evolution in software development practice. We optimize what we do for the happiness of our users and ourselves.From the beginning, we were passionate about both making software and the effects great products have on people. We have combined those in creating Semaphore, which we launched in 2012, and transitioned to become a product company.Over the years we have grown in all aspects and continue to every day but our goals have remained the same. Have fun while working with the best technology at hand. Design and create the finest product we can. Compete with the top in the industry. Learn from the best. Focus on the essentials. Cultivate openness and respect in all communication. Be friends with one another. Learn constantly. Share what we know. Apply now Semaphore is a leader in hosted continuous integration and deployment, with over 50,000 developers relying on Semaphore to test and deploy their code. Our mission is to help teams ship their software faster and with more confidence by providing a robust and scalable platform for software delivery.Our platform provides continuous delivery services for all mainstream programming languages, as well as, native support for building and shipping Docker containers. We aim to deliver the easiest-to-use and fastest CI/CD service. We work in small highly effective teams, so every team member is vital to the success of the company.We're looking for collaborative, detail-oriented people who are ready for a challenge. In this role, you'll have the opportunity to take significant ownership of technical projects that will drive the success of the overall business. A strong candidate will bring solid product and technical acumen, combined with the ability to move fast (and fix things).We are passionate about providing a remote, flexible and supportive work culture. Collaboration is in our DNA.P.S. We are soon going to open-source, and are super excited about that! We hope you will be also. Be sure to check out https://semaphoreci.com/summitExamples of problems you'll be solvingImplementing new Semaphore featuresImproving the internal and external APIs of SemaphoreAutomating the release process, monitoring, and solving scalability issuesContributing to and collaborating on Open Source softwareOptimizing performance and scalability of SemaphoreQualificationsYou have 5+ years of professional experience.You have experience with shipping services into production, and maintaining their quality.You have experience with developing database-backed web applications.You are proficient in one or more high-level languages.You are self-managed and capable of making effective decisions.You care about building maintainable, efficient, clean code.You speak and write well. Were a distributed team so were extra mindful about communication.You are willing to master Golang and/or Elixir, our primary languages for writing Semaphore.You are proficient with following TDD/BDD practices for implementing new features.You have experience with taking responsibility for projects end-to-end from idea to completion.You have experience with Linux and the command line.BenefitsThe impact of working on a product that's competing on a global market.Join a small team of around 30 full-time people who love what they do.A healthy 40-hour work week, friendly and supportive work environment.Competitive salary.Company retreats.Space to learn continuously and choose the tools and equipment for your jobPaid trips to conferences and books of your choice.Interact with developers that use Semaphore and talk about the latest and greatest way to develop and ship software.Paid membership at a fitness club of your choiceSemaphore is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with our mission of serving a diverse and global audience, we value a diverse workforce and inclusive culture which reflects that. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, disability, and veteran status.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now Semaphore View company Jobs posted: 29 Related Jobs See more Back-End Programming jobs