Wildly conflicting global energy estimates for data centers have long blocked reliable low-carbon planning, with 2020 power use figures varying sixfold. This new research in Engineering breaks down flaws in two mainstream calculation methods, introduces AI load recognition for unregistered server hubs, and calls for standardized grid-linked energy registration. It also reveals untapped temporal and spatial load flexibility of AI computing facilities to balance renewable power supplies, offering actionable technical and policy fixes for clearer data center energy governance.

The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge and Idaho national laboratories announced a collaboration to expand the domestic supply chain of industrial pressure vessels. Together, the labs will help enable wire arc 3D printing of these large components, which are critical for energy-related industries and capable of reliably withstanding harsh service conditions. The initiative boosts the rapid expansion of U.S. nuclear manufacturing capabilities.

With the rapid development of 6G space–air–ground integrated communication networks, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, leveraging their advantages of wide-area coverage and freedom from geographic constraints, have become key infrastructure for achieving global seamless connectivity. However, due to the relative motion among satellites in different orbits, inter-satellite links (ISLs) exhibit periodic dynamic on–off characteristics, among which a portion of the interruptions are predictable topological changes. Conventional Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocols compute shortest paths solely based on link distance, without considering link effective duration or bandwidth constraints, rendering them inadequate for adapting to the dynamic topological characteristics of satellite networks. Although fast reroute strategies can address sudden link failures, they consume substantial bandwidth resources and cannot provide protection for all nodes across the entire network. Therefore, how to proactively switch service paths before predictable link interruptions occur, so as to minimize service disruption and resource overhead, has become a core issue in ensuring service continuity in LEO satellite networks.

The near-Earth asteroid Apophis will make an extremely close flyby of Earth on April 13, 2029, at a distance of approximately 38,000 km—an event that occurs on average only once every 7,500 years, offering an unprecedented opportunity for planetary science and planetary defense. However, significant uncertainties remain regarding the physical parameters of Apophis, such as its shape, spin state, internal structure, and material composition, and predictions of tidal effects—including potential orbital changes, spin acceleration, surface material displacement, and dust ejection during the flyby—are highly dependent on model assumptions. Although multiple nations have planned exploration missions, how to coordinate global observational resources within the limited time window, optimize rapid-response mission architectures, and translate scientific understanding into effective planetary defense strategies remain critical challenges to be addressed.