Layingfiber optic cables down on the ocean flooris a monumental undertaking in its own right . But now , Google actually has to go back and reinforce some of its thousands of miles of undersea cable — because athirst sharks keep mistaking the universe ’s data point lines for lunch .
The reinforcement initiative , announced just last weekat a Google Cloud Roadshow effect , is no modest feat . Google possess over 100,000 miles ofprivate fiber optic routesaround the domain . And while Google cloud team project manager Dan Belcher did reveal that Google has been enclose its trans - Pacific submarine cables in “ Kevlar - like material ” to protect against shark attacks , that ’s about all he was willing to divulge .
But why are sharks so tempted by our glass - cored , internet - pumping pipes?As internet World points out , it ’s been theorized that any electric impulses the cable sends out could actually mimicthe currents made by shark ’ likely prey :
Unlike short - haul tellurian fiber cables or erstwhile copper cables where the fiber did not emit noticeable field , undersea cable must carry high voltage powerfulness to the undersea repeater , which lead in both galvanic and magnetized fields around and along the cable … Some sharks mistaken the electric fields for distressed fish and attempt to feed on the cable . ”
So while the new Kevlar - alike finish might not do much to inhibit the cable ’s output of electric signals , it should make the shark ’ favorite high - tech chew toy a hell of a lot secure — both for Google and the sharks themselves . [ web WorldviaThe Guardian ]
Fiber OpticsGoogleSharks
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