Latest news with #SURF
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
S M Datta: A chairman with a heart
By Navroze D Dhondy It was late July 1996. As the Indian Airlines aircraft wobbled a bit and landed in Calcutta's Dum Dum airport, I was welcomed by torrential rain and loud cloudburst. The drive to the Oberoi Grand was a long and torturous one, where the Calcutta traffic truly lived up to its reputation…jams, snarls, water-logging, et al. After checking in to the hotel and doing the customary visit to the main Banquet Hall of the hotel where the SURF Carry-bag launch was to be held in a few weeks, I crossed over to the lobby trying to organise a cab to take me across the Howrah bridge to arrange a supplier of gas for the larger-than-life inflatable Dummy pack of Surf. No cabs were available. No Uber / Ola / Rapido in those days to quickly dial up. It was just my second time in Calcutta (the first as teenager from school) and I had no one to call or check with. Suddenly, I heard a soft-spoken voice in the lobby. He came a little closer and asked 'Is there a problem. Aren't you from Lintas?' It was Mr. S M Datta , who at that time was the Deputy Chairman - Hindustan Lever who saw me scurrying around like a headless chicken, trying to organise the cab. I nodded sheepishly and said, 'Yes, Mr. Datta, there is no cab available to go across to Howrah and check out the gas cylinders we need in the coming fortnight for the SURF conference' I had briefly met Mr. Datta at the HLL BackBay reclamation office when I had gone for a meeting with Mr. Shunu Sen- the then Director Marketing at Levers . The brief introduction and hello while he walked out of Shunu's office must have been hardly a minute or so. I was quite sure he wouldn't recognize me……..but he did! In a flash he raised his hand, beckoned a HLL Regional staffer from the Calcutta office and said, 'My work for the day is done, give the car to Navroze to visit Howrah' After 2 weeks was the grand SURF- CarryBag Launch Conference and it was the very first one I organised for Levers, as I had just got transferred from Lintas Delhi to Lintas Bombay. The high and mighty of Levers were all there. It was the first time that SURF was removing the shackles of the good-ole cardboard carton and moving into a more trendy, contemporary plastic carry bag, with an in-built handle. Besides SMD, there was Shunu, Anju Choudhary, Sanjay Khosla, Vindi Banga and Arun Adhikari who were delighted by what we pulled off at the Oberoi Grand despite the many hurdles that Calcutta could create before such an important launch! At the end of the evening, the ever-gracious SMD walked up to shake my hand, and being a man of few words, said, 'well done'. Many a year passed by, and I had moved on from Lintas. It was around 2002, and I had just set up Creatigies. I was on a late-night flight back from Bombay and while pulling my bag out of the boot of the cab, I landed wrenching my lower back. While I was seated in the aisle seat, SMD walked past me and we both nodded in acquaintance with a smile across both faces. Not a word spoken. When he returned from the visit to the aircraft loo, he saw me sitting in a rather awkward posture, with my lower back fairly stiff. 'What happened?' And I explained my lower back spasm. Without saying another word, he pulled down his briefcase, opened the bag, took out a small medicine pouch, and plonked a pill in my hand. 'Have this, it's a painkiller and a muscle relaxant. Will help you feel better' On landing, with a wave and a smile, he walked out of the aircraft. And that was the last I saw of him. SMD. The affable, gentle, Chairman who guided HLL for over 6 years. A few days ago, Mr. S M Datta crossed over to the other side, leaving behind a legacy of a chairman who was humble, humane and heartwarming. RIP, Sir! (The author is the founder and managing director- Creatigies Communications. Views expressed are personal.)
Business Upturn
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
CSC, SURF and Nokia Achieve 1.2 Tbit/s Data Transfer to prepare long haul network for new LUMI-AI supercomputer and AI Factories
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 4, 2025, 11:00 IST Press Release CSC, SURF and Nokia Achieve 1.2 Tbit/s Data Transfer to prepare long haul network for new LUMI-AI supercomputer and AI Factories Trial helps researchers prepare network for high performance computing (HPC) clusters and AI Factories handling massive datasets and high-intensity workloads. Results confirm that multi-domain, high-capacity data transfers across European research networks are both feasible and future-ready. 4 June 2025 Espoo, Finland – Nokia, CSC – IT Center for Science and SURF have successfully tested a high-capacity, quantum-safe fibre-optic connection exceeding 1.2 terabit per second (Tbit/s) between Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Kajaani, Finland with data traversing over 3500 kilometers. The trial, which was conducted in May 2025, demonstrated the potential of ultra-fast, cross-border connectivity for research. Tests were carried out along several routes, including the longest which spanned 4,700 km through Norway at a capacity of 1Tbit/s. To put this in perspective, 1 Tbit/s is enough to stream 200,000 full HD movies (at 5 Mbit/s each) simultaneously. These results are particularly promising as the research community prepares for supercomputers and AI Factories to come online – where reliable, scalable, and secure connections will be critical to supporting some of the world's largest datasets and most demanding workloads. The test used a combination of real research data and synthetic data, transferred directly from disk to disk – from SURF's facility in Amsterdam to CSC's data center in Kajaani, across five production research and education networks: SURF (the Netherlands), NORDUnet (Nordic backbone), Sunet (Sweden), SIKT (Norway) and Funet (CSC's network in Finland). The network solution was based on Nokia's IP/MPLS routing and quantum-safe optical networking gear. Nokia's IP technology successfully demonstrated Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) to accommodate 'elephant flows', or very large continuous flows of data, and its high-capacity optical transport technology showed the ability to handle massive data sets generated by HPCs over long distances. With the exponential growth of research data, especially for training large-scale AI models, the need for resilient, high-throughput and secure connectivity is more critical than ever. This test confirms that multi-domain, high-capacity data transfers across European research networks are both feasible and future-ready. Testing an operational network connection over long distances provides unique insights into data transport and storage of large data volumes. The tests are crucial for improving the infrastructure for data-intensive research. 'We design research networks with future needs in mind. CSC's data center in Kajaani already hosts the pan-European LUMI supercomputer and with the upcoming LUMI-AI supercomputer and AI Factory coming online, reliable and scalable data connections throughout Europe are essential. Even though the geographical distance is significant, it poses no obstacle to data traffic,' said Jani Myyry, Senior Network Specialist, CSC. 'As SURF we are ready to take the next step in aligning the European supercomputers. These efforts offer future perspectives to train GPT-nl on LUMI or for a researcher to compute on LUMI with very large datasets hosted at SURF, such as the KNMI (The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) datasets. We are very grateful to our Nordic partners for their help setting up this trial connection. This is again an example of the continued good cooperation between NRENs to create the best possible international infrastructure for research and education,' said Arno Bakker, Senior Network Specialist, SURF. 'Groundbreaking trials like this highlight how advanced networks are foundational to unlocking the full potential of AI and high-performance computing. This successful collaboration with CSC and SURF is a testament to the innovation and leadership of the scientific community, and to what's possible when we work together. As the network prepares for the next wave of supercomputers and AI Factories, we are proud to deliver the quantum-safe, high-capacity, and resilient IP/MPLS and optical infrastructure that makes these systems viable. We look forward to continuing our support for global research and education networks, helping them scale with confidence and drive the next generation of discovery and innovation,' said Mikhail Lenko, Customer Solutions Architect, Nokia. Resources and additional informationProduct Page: 7750 Service RouterProduct Page: 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS)Product Page: 1830 Photonic Service Interconnect – Modular (PSI-M) Web Page: Quantum-safe networks About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation. With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. About CSC – IT Center for Science CSC is a Finnish center of expertise in ICT that provides world-class services for research, education, culture, public administration and enterprises, to help them thrive and benefit society at large. About SURF SURF is the ICT cooperative of Dutch education and research institutions. The members, the owners of SURF, join forces to develop or procure the best possible digital services, work together on complex innovation issues and develop and share knowledge with each other. SURF actively collaborates with other European NRENs united in GÉANT and participates in global consortia like the Advanced North Atlantic (ANA) and Asia Pacific Europe Ring (AER). NetherLight, SURF's Global Exchange Point (GXP) dedicated to research and education data in Amsterdam connects similar GXPs and advanced high-capacity networks for scientific and educational collaboration. The NetherLight GXP plays a major and vital role in the federation of research and education networks worldwide, also known as the Global Research and Education Network (GREN). Media inquiriesNokia Press Office Email: [email protected] Nokia Media RelationsSarah MillerPhone: +1 613-720-9716 Email: [email protected] CSC Media RelationsSanna KostiainenPhone: +358 40 0712072 Email: [email protected] SURF SpokespersonTom HovenPhone: +31 641 439 398 Email: [email protected] Follow us on social media LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CSC, SURF and Nokia Achieve 1.2 Tbit/s Data Transfer to prepare long haul network for new LUMI-AI supercomputer and AI Factories
Press ReleaseCSC, SURF and Nokia Achieve 1.2 Tbit/s Data Transfer to prepare long haul network for new LUMI-AI supercomputer and AI Factories Trial helps researchers prepare network for high performance computing (HPC) clusters and AI Factories handling massive datasets and high-intensity workloads. Results confirm that multi-domain, high-capacity data transfers across European research networks are both feasible and future-ready. 4 June 2025Espoo, Finland – Nokia, CSC – IT Center for Science and SURF have successfully tested a high-capacity, quantum-safe fibre-optic connection exceeding 1.2 terabit per second (Tbit/s) between Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Kajaani, Finland with data traversing over 3500 kilometers. The trial, which was conducted in May 2025, demonstrated the potential of ultra-fast, cross-border connectivity for research. Tests were carried out along several routes, including the longest which spanned 4,700 km through Norway at a capacity of 1Tbit/s. To put this in perspective, 1 Tbit/s is enough to stream 200,000 full HD movies (at 5 Mbit/s each) simultaneously. These results are particularly promising as the research community prepares for supercomputers and AI Factories to come online – where reliable, scalable, and secure connections will be critical to supporting some of the world's largest datasets and most demanding workloads. The test used a combination of real research data and synthetic data, transferred directly from disk to disk – from SURF's facility in Amsterdam to CSC's data center in Kajaani, across five production research and education networks: SURF (the Netherlands), NORDUnet (Nordic backbone), Sunet (Sweden), SIKT (Norway) and Funet (CSC's network in Finland). The network solution was based on Nokia's IP/MPLS routing and quantum-safe optical networking gear. Nokia's IP technology successfully demonstrated Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) to accommodate 'elephant flows', or very large continuous flows of data, and its high-capacity optical transport technology showed the ability to handle massive data sets generated by HPCs over long distances. With the exponential growth of research data, especially for training large-scale AI models, the need for resilient, high-throughput and secure connectivity is more critical than ever. This test confirms that multi-domain, high-capacity data transfers across European research networks are both feasible and future-ready. Testing an operational network connection over long distances provides unique insights into data transport and storage of large data volumes. The tests are crucial for improving the infrastructure for data-intensive research. 'We design research networks with future needs in mind. CSC's data center in Kajaani already hosts the pan-European LUMI supercomputer and with the upcoming LUMI-AI supercomputer and AI Factory coming online, reliable and scalable data connections throughout Europe are essential. Even though the geographical distance is significant, it poses no obstacle to data traffic,' said Jani Myyry, Senior Network Specialist, CSC. 'As SURF we are ready to take the next step in aligning the European supercomputers. These efforts offer future perspectives to train GPT-nl on LUMI or for a researcher to compute on LUMI with very large datasets hosted at SURF, such as the KNMI (The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) datasets. We are very grateful to our Nordic partners for their help setting up this trial connection. This is again an example of the continued good cooperation between NRENs to create the best possible international infrastructure for research and education,' said Arno Bakker, Senior Network Specialist, SURF. 'Groundbreaking trials like this highlight how advanced networks are foundational to unlocking the full potential of AI and high-performance computing. This successful collaboration with CSC and SURF is a testament to the innovation and leadership of the scientific community, and to what's possible when we work together. As the network prepares for the next wave of supercomputers and AI Factories, we are proud to deliver the quantum-safe, high-capacity, and resilient IP/MPLS and optical infrastructure that makes these systems viable. We look forward to continuing our support for global research and education networks, helping them scale with confidence and drive the next generation of discovery and innovation,' said Mikhail Lenko, Customer Solutions Architect, Nokia. Resources and additional informationProduct Page: 7750 Service RouterProduct Page: 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS)Product Page: 1830 Photonic Service Interconnect – Modular (PSI-M)Web Page: Quantum-safe networks About NokiaAt Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation. With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. About CSC – IT Center for ScienceCSC is a Finnish center of expertise in ICT that provides world-class services for research, education, culture, public administration and enterprises, to help them thrive and benefit society at large. About SURF SURF is the ICT cooperative of Dutch education and research institutions. The members, the owners of SURF, join forces to develop or procure the best possible digital services, work together on complex innovation issues and develop and share knowledge with each other. SURF actively collaborates with other European NRENs united in GÉANT and participates in global consortia like the Advanced North Atlantic (ANA) and Asia Pacific Europe Ring (AER). NetherLight, SURF's Global Exchange Point (GXP) dedicated to research and education data in Amsterdam connects similar GXPs and advanced high-capacity networks for scientific and educational collaboration. The NetherLight GXP plays a major and vital role in the federation of research and education networks worldwide, also known as the Global Research and Education Network (GREN). Media inquiriesNokia Press OfficeEmail: Nokia Media RelationsSarah MillerPhone: +1 613-720-9716Email: CSC Media RelationsSanna KostiainenPhone: +358 40 0712072Email: viestinta@ SURF SpokespersonTom HovenPhone: +31 641 439 398Email: Follow us on social mediaLinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Underground lab opens doors for photography contest
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Professional and amateur photographers will have a chance to capture a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). It's part of Interactions Global Physics Photowalk–a worldwide event where major particle physics laboratories open their doors to photographers. Blood drive breaks record for number of donations SURF'S main campus is nearly a mile underground. Scientists there conduct experiments to answer fundamental questions about the universe, from dark matter to nuclear astrophysics. The competition includes three phases: Phase 1: Neutrino Day – On July 12 in Lead, SD, photographers will capture and submit up to three images taken from the annual Neutrino Day festival. Phase 2: Underground Photowalk – Eight photographers selected get a guided underground tour to photograph SURF's science spaces. Phase 3: Global Physics Photowalk – The top three photos from both phases will advance to the global judging phase. The winning photographers from around the world will have their work featured in magazines CERN Courier and Symmetry. More information on how to register is available on the 2025 Physics Photowalk website. Bat tests positive for rabies at Great Plains Zoo Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
An underground lab in South Dakota could prove key in advancing the next generation of geothermal energy needed to power the digital age
The deepest laboratory in the United States provides a unique test bed for the study of enhanced geothermal systems. Dr. Chet Hopp, with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Lead, SD, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With a total depth of 8000 feet, the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) is a one-of-a-kind location for experiments that are pioneering new ways to harness heat stored deep inside the earth. SURF has hosted a series of geothermal initiatives over the last decade, the latest is the Center for Understanding Subsurface Signals and Permeability (CUSSP). The multi-institutional project, led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), could revolutionize the production of electricity by allowing the construction of geothermal power plants almost anywhere on the planet. As the digital age increases the demand for energy, these new Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) have the potential to help meet the nation's growing need for electricity. In the most basic sense, EGS technology involves cold water pumped into deep wells where it is heated by the Earth and returned to the surface as hot water or steam that will spin a turbine for the creation of electricity. Enhanced geothermal technology is the next frontier for energy deployment with the potential to power more than 65 million American homes and businesses. The tech sector is leading the way in developing EGS. In late 2023 tech giant Google, in partnership with geothermal startup Fervo Energy, announced the completion of the first enhanced geothermal energy power plant in the country. Like all fledgling technology, research is required to improve and advance its potential. EGS has challenges to overcome; for example, the underground fractures where heat is transferred to the fluid can become clogged. Over time, the water that is pumped into deep underground fractures can leave behind minerals that slow or stop the flow, in same way the water pipes in an old house can become mineralized and clogged. 'The big unknown is how long these reservoirs will last,' said Kevin Rosso, director of CUSSP. 'We are seeing successful EGS pilot projects all around the world right now that prove this technology works. But we don't know if these underground reservoirs will continue to produce heat effectively at the same rates for decades.' Rosso is a Battelle fellow and the associate director of the Physical Sciences Division for Geochemistry at PNNL. He says CUSSP aims to ensure that EGS power plants provide a return on investment. 'Whether or not these installations will be economical is still unproven territory at the moment. This is where CUSSP is out in front, working to answer these questions,' Rosso said. Searching for Signals in the Noise There are many variables to consider when working to keep enhanced geothermal systems from clogging up over time. The water chemistry, rock types, heat, pressure, and the rates of flow through underground fractures are some of the factors that can vary and change. The geothermal test bed, located on the 4100 level of SURF, is a place where many of these variables can be controlled and understood. 'That's one of the exciting things about this location. Here we have control over water temperature, water chemistry, and we know the rock types, and that's something that's never been done before,' Rosso said. Another challenge is the chemical reactions that lead to mineralization and clogging of fractures deep inside geothermal systems that normally occur miles underground–where they can't be seen. This is where remote sensing comes in. At SURF, scientists can employ a wide variety of sensing equipment in the test bed, from water and rock temperature and chemistry measurements to seismometers and electrical resistivity sensors, all of which help researchers better understand what is happening underground. 'We have multiple geophysical sensors collecting terabytes of data in real-time during these flow experiments,' Rosso said. 'The experiment allows us to learn what the signals look like that correspond to certain processes we see happening.' This ability to search for signals in the noise and corollate them with what's happening underground at SURF allows CUSSP scientists to build a better understanding of the complex processes that govern geothermal systems—and build better models that can be used across multiple geothermal extraction sites. 'Developing the ability to understand the chemistry remotely with geophysical signals is very exciting, and also very challenging,' said Jeff Burghardt, an Earth Scientist at PNNL who is working on parallel geothermal research at SURF. 'It's sort of a moonshot idea at this point, but I think we have a plausible path forward to being able to do it, and that would be a game changer.' A multidisciplinary collaboration that is building the next generation STEM workforce leaders in America The complexity of these problems requires large teams with a range of skills. CUSSP includes a collaboration of 40 researchers assisted by many undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students. This means geochemists and geophysicists are rubbing shoulders with mechanical engineers and computational scientists, all who are working together to achieve the same goals. 'It's really exciting to see multiple disciplines coming together, rallying around a really focused problem,' said Rosso. One of the co-principal investigators on CUSSP is Alexis Navarre-Sitchler, a geochemist and professor in the geology and geological engineering department at Colorado School of Mines. Navarre-Sitchler shares Rosso's excitement. 'This is the science that is taking us into the future,' Navarre-Sitchler said. 'This effort to lay the scientific groundwork and to invest in the fundamental research needed to develop geothermal in efficient and responsible ways will ensure longevity of these projects in the future. It's a very fulfilling project to be involved in.' Rosso notes the mix of leading researchers, postdocs, and students who find this work fulfilling are also those who will continue to push the field of geothermal energy forward in the coming decades. 'You know, CUSSP is an engine for the next generation of leaders who will be calling the shots for enhanced geothermal systems. I'm particularly excited about just seeing the students working on this project, many of them will make their careers here. And at the same time the nation will get a workforce of experts to help lead the country forward in geothermal energy.' The work at SURF also complements investments at other DOE geothermal facilities like the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) in Utah. SURF is one of 16 deep underground laboratories around the world. Other labs in countries like China, Canada, Russia, Italy, and the United Kingdom are all competing for similar advancements in underground science. Attachment Dr. Chet Hopp, with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory CONTACT: Mike Ray Sanford Underground Research Facility 605.571.2314 cray@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
