Data centers have become the face of AI backlash, with celebrities, politicians and protesters pushing to slow their growth.
Why it matters: America's sharply rising public opposition to data centers — which fuel our everyday use of the internet — could pose an existential threat to AI's growth.
A rendering of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Image: NASA
NASA is calling off an attempt to save a space observatory falling out of orbit, dooming it to a fiery death in Earth's atmosphere.
Why it matters: The Swift Boost Mission was an ambitious effort to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and demonstrate the concept of grabbing onto and moving a satellite.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's (D) newly hard line on data centers says plenty about the evolving politics of AI and the tech industry's challenge to build the energy and computing power it needs.
Why it matters: He's in the 2028 presidential mix, leads a critical swing state, and faces November reelection in one of several governor's races where data centers are taking center stage.
Solar energy and batteries are making it easier for utilities to meet surging electricity demand during extreme heat, but prolonged high temperatures are exposing other vulnerabilities in the grid.
Why it matters: Electricity demand rises as air conditioners work harder in extreme heat, while high temperatures can make parts of the system less efficient and put additional stress on equipment.
Air travel is being squeezed from multiple directions this summer as extreme weather, capacity constraints and geopolitical conflict strain the global aviation system.
Why it matters: Overlapping pressures across the aviation network are leaving travelers more vulnerable to delays, cancellations and higher fares, with no immediate end in sight.
Data: NOAA solar calculations; U.S. Census Bureau; Note: Times are calculated for a single point within each U.S. county or equivalent. Actual sunset times across a given county might vary; Map: Brad Jennings/Axios
Most Americans have already seen their final 8pm sunset of the year.
The big picture: We lose a little more daylight every day as the Earth's Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun through Dec. 21, which will be the shortest day of the year.
But the farther west within a time zone you live, the later your sunsets will typically be.
AI's impact is no longer confined to office work; it's also transforming agriculture. PepsiCo is using AI to help farmers make faster, more informed decisions in the field. Jim Andrew, PepsiCo's EVP and chief sustainability officer, discusses how prioritizing human-first AI tools is supporting farmers and agronomists with benefits like earlier disease detection, precise resource use and resilience amid unpredictable agricultural landscapes.
Atomic Canyon is rolling out an AI assistant developed with major industry groups to help nuclear plant workers make better and faster use of operating records and technical knowledge.
The startup, which provides AI tailored to the nuclear industry, is also getting a funding lift from chip giant Nvidia.
