'Only 2 nations may survive': US author Annie Jacobsen warns nuclear war could kill 5 billion in 72 minutes

Author of Operation Paperclip

A world erased in just over an hour

No time to think

The six-minute decision

The last safe havens?

Who is Annie Jacobsen?

With global conflicts escalating, the unthinkable is inching closer to reality. According to Pulitzer finalist and war expert Annie Jacobsen, if a nuclear war was to happen , only two countries stand a realistic chance of survival.

Axiom Space is set to deploy its first two orbiting data centre nodes in low Earth orbit before the end of 2025. These initial satellites, ODC 1 and ODC 2, will mark the company&rsquo;s entry into the development of in-space cloud computing infrastructure.
The data centre nodes will be integrated with Kepler Communications&rsquo; upcoming optical relay constellation. Kepler, a Canada-based company, is planning to begin launches for its constellation in late 2025. Each of the 10 planned Kepler satellites will weigh approximately 260 kilograms, with two allocated for Axiom's data centre payloads.
The orbital data centres are designed to process Earth-observation data using artificial intelligence and machine learning directly in space. This approach aims to reduce the latency associated with transmitting data to Earth-based stations for processing and to improve bandwidth efficiency by only transmitting relevant data.
Currently, most satellite data is downlinked to ground stations for analysis, which can introduce delays and raise security concerns. By processing information in orbit, Axiom aims to minimise the risk of data interception and streamline the transfer of essential insights to end users.
The company&rsquo;s orbital data centre concept expands on earlier plans to include such capabilities on its future space station, scheduled for launch in 2027. According to Axiom, the new distributed approach&mdash;leveraging hosted payloads on third-party satellites&mdash;will support the delivery of cloud services to global clients.
Axiom has previously tested a smaller-scale computing payload, based on Amazon Web Services&rsquo; Snowcone device, aboard the International Space Station. A larger system, known as Data Centre Unit-1 (AxDCU-1), is due for launch soon, intended to validate hardware and software performance in preparation for the full deployment of ODCs.
Jason Aspiotis, Axiom Space&rsquo;s global director of in-space data and security, stated that the deployment of the first two nodes accelerates the company&rsquo;s broader plan to establish multiple free-flying computing units in orbit to meet increasing global demand.
The data centres will be linked to Kepler&rsquo;s network via high-speed 2.5 Gbps optical links, allowing for communication with other satellites and terrestrial data facilities.
Despite the progress, developers must still address technical challenges, such as protecting electronics from space radiation, which can significantly affect the durability of computing hardware in orbit.

The orbital data centres are designed to process Earth-observation data using artificial intelligence and machine learning directly in space

Axiom Space is set to deploy its first two orbiting data centre nodes in low Earth orbit before the end of 2025. These initial satellites, ODC 1 and ODC 2, will mark the company’s entry into the development of in-space cloud computing infrastructure. The data centre nodes will be integrated with Kepler Communications’ upcoming optical relay constellation. Kepler, a Canada-based company, is planning to begin launches for its constellation in late 2025. Each of the 10 planned Kepler satellites will weigh approximately 260 kilograms, with two allocated for Axiom's data centre payloads. The orbital data centres are designed to process Earth-observation data using artificial intelligence and machine learning directly in space. This approach aims to reduce the latency associated with transmitting data to Earth-based stations for processing and to improve bandwidth efficiency by only transmitting relevant data. Currently, most satellite data is downlinked to ground stations for analysis, which can introduce delays and raise security concerns. By processing information in orbit, Axiom aims to minimise the risk of data interception and streamline the transfer of essential insights to end users. The company’s orbital data centre concept expands on earlier plans to include such capabilities on its future space station, scheduled for launch in 2027. According to Axiom, the new distributed approach—leveraging hosted payloads on third-party satellites—will support the delivery of cloud services to global clients. Axiom has previously tested a smaller-scale computing payload, based on Amazon Web Services’ Snowcone device, aboard the International Space Station. A larger system, known as Data Centre Unit-1 (AxDCU-1), is due for launch soon, intended to validate hardware and software performance in preparation for the full deployment of ODCs. Jason Aspiotis, Axiom Space’s global director of in-space data and security, stated that the deployment of the first two nodes accelerates the company’s broader plan to establish multiple free-flying computing units in orbit to meet increasing global demand. The data centres will be linked to Kepler’s network via high-speed 2.5 Gbps optical links, allowing for communication with other satellites and terrestrial data facilities. Despite the progress, developers must still address technical challenges, such as protecting electronics from space radiation, which can significantly affect the durability of computing hardware in orbit.

'Orbiting data centre': Axiom Space sets stage for first cloud among the stars by late 2025

A whale shark measuring 60 feet in length has been observed in the Pacific Ocean, making it the largest specimen of its kind ever recorded in the region, according to a report from&nbsp;Animals Around the Globe. The sighting has drawn interest from marine scientists, as the species typically grows to between 18 and 33 feet, with rare individuals reaching up to 40 feet.
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world and are known for their slow movements and filter-feeding behaviour. They consume plankton, krill, and small fish by swimming with their mouths open. Despite their size, they pose no threat to humans and are often encountered by divers in tropical and warm-temperate waters.
This particular whale shark was spotted near coastal areas commonly frequented by the species. Researchers consider the sighting an opportunity to further study aspects of whale shark biology, including feeding habits, migratory routes, and general behaviour. Given its exceptional size, the discovery is regarded as an important data point in understanding the species&rsquo; growth potential and habitat range.
Whale sharks contribute to marine ecosystems by helping regulate populations of plankton and small fish, which in turn supports the health of coral reefs and balances food webs. Their long migrations across global waters, including between the Philippines and the Gulf of Mexico, have been partially tracked through satellite tagging.
However, the species faces several conservation challenges. Overfishing, accidental capture, marine pollution, and habitat degradation continue to affect their populations. Their slow reproductive rates make them particularly vulnerable to population decline.
Marine conservationists are pushing for greater protection through marine reserves, regulatory frameworks, and public education. Advances in technology such as satellite tracking and underwater monitoring are enabling more detailed studies of whale sharks, helping inform conservation strategies aimed at preserving their numbers and habitats.

This particular whale shark was spotted near coastal areas commonly frequented by the species.

A whale shark measuring 60 feet in length has been observed in the Pacific Ocean, making it the largest specimen of its kind ever recorded in the region, according to a report from Animals Around the Globe. The sighting has drawn interest from marine scientists, as the species typically grows to between 18 and 33 feet, with rare individuals reaching up to 40 feet. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world and are known for their slow movements and filter-feeding behaviour. They consume plankton, krill, and small fish by swimming with their mouths open. Despite their size, they pose no threat to humans and are often encountered by divers in tropical and warm-temperate waters. This particular whale shark was spotted near coastal areas commonly frequented by the species. Researchers consider the sighting an opportunity to further study aspects of whale shark biology, including feeding habits, migratory routes, and general behaviour. Given its exceptional size, the discovery is regarded as an important data point in understanding the species’ growth potential and habitat range. Whale sharks contribute to marine ecosystems by helping regulate populations of plankton and small fish, which in turn supports the health of coral reefs and balances food webs. Their long migrations across global waters, including between the Philippines and the Gulf of Mexico, have been partially tracked through satellite tagging. However, the species faces several conservation challenges. Overfishing, accidental capture, marine pollution, and habitat degradation continue to affect their populations. Their slow reproductive rates make them particularly vulnerable to population decline. Marine conservationists are pushing for greater protection through marine reserves, regulatory frameworks, and public education. Advances in technology such as satellite tracking and underwater monitoring are enabling more detailed studies of whale sharks, helping inform conservation strategies aimed at preserving their numbers and habitats.

Scientists discover largest fish ever in the depths of Pacific Ocean