How Does The Internet Work? | February 24, 2025

Summary

This CNN 10 episode highlights key global events, including Sweden's investigation into the sabotage of undersea telecom cables, which are crucial for worldwide communications. It covers concerns over the vulnerability of these cables to damage and surveillance. The episode also discusses the efforts to combat deforestation in the Amazon, with Brazil's significant actions and challenges. Finally, it explores the future of flying taxis, showcasing a new electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, aiming to revolutionize urban transportation by 2030. The episode provides insights into technology, environmental protection, and the security of global infrastructure.

Takeaways

• 😀 Swedish police are investigating sabotage of an undersea telecom cable, marking the third incident of cable damage in recent months.
• 🌊 Undersea cables are crucial for global communications, handling everything from banking to streaming, with over 1.3 million kilometers of cables carrying $1 trillion in transactions daily.
• 🔌 Modern undersea cables use fiber optic technology, and while they are protected, they are still vulnerable to accidents, weather events, and potential sabotage.
• ⚓ NATO has launched operations to prevent attacks on undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, coordinating with border guards from affected countries.
• 🛠️ Cable repairs are expensive, costing between $1 million and $3 million, and can take months, with the potential to disrupt services globally if multiple cables are damaged.
• 🌱 The Amazon rainforest produces 20% of Earth's oxygen and faces increasing deforestation due to activities like illegal logging, ranching, and mining in Brazil.
• 🌍 Brazil's government has initiated major operations to combat deforestation, seizing thousands of truckloads of illegal timber and pledging to reduce deforestation rates.
• ⚡ Brazilian President Lula has made progress in reducing deforestation by 66% year-on-year as of 2023 but faces criticism over investments in fossil fuels like offshore oil drilling near the Amazon.
• 🚁 Flying taxis, expected to become a reality by 2030, will be electric, zero-emission vehicles capable of flying through city airspace, designed to be as affordable as traditional taxis.
• ✈️ The VX4, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, will have a range of 100 miles, a top speed of 150 mph, and initially serve as an airport-to-city shuttle.
• 🏙️ Vertical Aerospace plans to deliver 150 flying taxis globally by 2030, revolutionizing urban transportation and moving technology from sci-fi to reality.

Q & A

What recent event is Swedish police investigating in relation to telecom cables?

Swedish police are investigating a suspected case of sabotage involving an undersea telecom cable in their economic zone. This marks the third time a Finnish telecom cable has been damaged.

Why are undersea telecom cables so vital to global communications?

Undersea cables are essential because they carry almost all global communications, including financial transactions, streaming, and various online activities. They form an invisible network of infrastructure that supports modern life.

What measures are in place to ensure the reliability of undersea cables in case of damage?

Companies use multiple undersea cables to distribute data. This way, if one cable is damaged, there are backups to prevent complete loss of connectivity.

What factors can damage undersea cables?

Undersea cables can be damaged by natural occurrences like hurricanes or earthquakes, as well as human actions such as fishing nets or ship anchors.

How does NATO respond to potential threats to undersea cables?

NATO has launched operations to send warships and improve coordination with border guards from affected nations in the Baltic Sea to prevent suspected attacks on undersea cables.

How do modern undersea cables work?

Modern undersea cables use fiber optic technology, where light signals travel through glass fibers wrapped in protective layers. These cables are laid on the seabed and buried near the shore to prevent damage.

What challenges are faced when repairing damaged undersea cables?

Repairing a damaged cable is expensive, costing between $1 to $3 million, and it can take months to complete. The process is complex due to the cables' location and the difficulty of the repair.

How does deforestation in the Amazon impact the environment?

Deforestation in the Amazon threatens biodiversity and the global climate. The rainforest produces 20% of Earth's oxygen through photosynthesis and plays a crucial role in regulating the planet's carbon levels.

What actions are being taken in Brazil to combat illegal logging?

Brazil's Environmental Protection Agency has launched Operation Maravalia, the largest campaign in five years, targeting illegal logging. The operation has seized over 5,000 truckloads of illegal timber.

How is Brazil balancing deforestation control with fossil fuel development?

While Brazil's government is tackling deforestation, it is also pushing for offshore oil drilling, which raises concerns due to the environmental impact of fossil fuels. The country is also aiming to join OPEC+ to become a key oil producer.

What is the concept of flying taxis and how will they work?

Flying taxis, like the VX4 by Vertical Aerospace, are electric vehicles that can take off and land vertically. They will operate as urban air mobility solutions, flying between airports and cities. They are designed to be safe, low-noise, and have zero emissions.

When can we expect flying taxis to be operational?

Vertical Aerospace plans to deliver 150 flying taxis by 2030, with the aim of transforming urban transport with these electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles.