Amazon To Test AI-Created Material For Carbon Capture In Data Centers

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 4, 2024

Amazon is stepping up its environmental efforts by testing a groundbreaking carbon-removal material for its data centers. The company, which is tackling the growing emissions linked to the artificial intelligence systems powering these centers, has partnered with Orbital Materials, a startup that used AI to design the innovative substance.

Jonathan Godwin, CEO of Orbital Materials, explained that the new material acts like an atomic-level sponge, with cavities precisely sized to capture CO2 without interacting with other elements. This targeted approach could be a game-changer in carbon filtration.

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One of the appealing aspects of the new material is its cost-effectiveness. Godwin estimates that the material could account for just 10% of the cost associated with renting a GPU chip for AI training, significantly less than the price of traditional carbon offsets.

Meanwhile, the demand for energy in data centers is rising, as AI’s rapid development requires more power and cooling solutions. This surge poses a challenge for Amazon, which is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world’s largest cloud provider by revenue, plans to begin piloting the AI-designed carbon removal material in one of its data centers starting in 2025. This initiative is part of a three-year collaboration with Orbital, which will also gain access to AWS’s technology and open-source AI tools for further development.

Howard Gefen, General Manager of AWS Energy & Utilities, stated that the partnership would promote sustainable innovation, but financial details remain undisclosed. Orbital, with offices in Princeton, New Jersey, and London, began its journey about a year ago by setting up a lab to synthesize AI-designed materials. The startup aims to work with AWS to test additional AI-generated solutions, addressing water usage and cooling requirements in data centers. Godwin co-founded Orbital, which currently employs 20 people and is supported by investors such as Radical Ventures and Nvidia’s venture arm. Before this, Godwin contributed to materials science work at Alphabet’s DeepMind until 2022.

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Global Shipping Navigates Elevated Geopolitical Turbulence

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 5, 2026

Global shipping is facing increased geopolitical risks across several regions, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea and Libya. These developments are affecting merchant shipping, energy transportation and critical infrastructure.

Growing Threats Beyond Conventional Horizons

Risks facing the shipping industry extend beyond traditional military conflicts and disruptions to energy supplies. According to industry analysts cited by NewMoney, cyber attacks, drone activity, electronic interference and sea mines are creating additional challenges for shipowners and crews operating in affected regions.

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Strategic Focus: The Strait Of Hormuz

Nikolas-Alketas Drosos, Maritime Commercial Manager and Country Representative for Greece and Cyprus at EOS Risk Group, said regional tensions can quickly affect global shipping operations. Drosos noted that the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical route for energy transportation and an important corridor for global trade.

Implications For Critical Digital Infrastructure

In addition to energy shipments, the region hosts undersea fibre-optic cables that carry approximately 99% of international internet traffic. Disruptions to this infrastructure could affect banking services, logistics networks, cloud platforms and international communications.

Heightened Dangers In The Black Sea And Libya

EOS Risk assessments classify the risk of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports as high. The report also notes the possibility of misidentification incidents or collateral damage affecting commercial vessels operating in the region. Drone and missile attacks, together with sea mines, continue to pose risks in the Black Sea.

Instability in Libya has also affected maritime operations in the Mediterranean. Recent clashes in areas including Zawiya led to tanker evacuations and temporary suspensions of activity at some facilities.

Greece’s Strategic Considerations

Greek-owned vessels remain exposed to developments in several high-risk regions. Drosos raised questions about the role maritime nations can play in international security initiatives and information-sharing efforts related to shipping risks.

Building Resilience Through Comprehensive Maritime Security

According to EOS Risk, maritime security increasingly requires a combination of intelligence analysis, cyber security, geopolitical monitoring and crisis management capabilities. These measures are becoming more important as shipping companies adapt to a changing risk environment.

Conclusion

The report highlights the growing connection between maritime security, energy transportation and digital infrastructure. Industry participants continue to assess how geopolitical developments may affect shipping routes, operational planning and risk management across global markets.

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