Chris Baraniuk is a technology reporter. Undersea cables are very important for the internet. They help connect countries and carry lots of data.
Recently, divers found damaged cables in the Baltic Sea. NATO is now patrolling this area with planes and ships to keep the cables safe. The European Union is also taking steps to protect these cables.
Some companies are using special technology to detect danger near the cables. This technology can hear sounds in the water. It can tell if a boat or underwater drone is near the cable.
AP Sensing is one company testing this technology. They use sensors on boats and divers to find out how well their system works. They can see if a boat is above the cable or if someone is trying to tamper with it.
However, this technology has limitations. It does not work well from far away. Experts say cables can still break if boats drag their anchors over them. Even when cables get damaged, the internet usually keeps working because of backups. This is a good thing for everyone.
Vocabulary List:
- Undersea /ˌʌn.dəˈsiː/ (adjective): Located occurring or done beneath the surface of the sea.
- Patrolling /pəˈtroʊ.lɪŋ/ (verb): To traverse an area to ensure security or watch for any unusual activity.
- Detect /dɪˈtɛkt/ (verb): To discover or identify the presence or existence of something.
- Tamper /ˈtæmpər/ (verb): To interfere with something in a harmful way.
- Limitations /ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃənz/ (noun): Restrictions or bounds that reduce effectiveness or capabilities.
- Backups /ˈbæk.ʌps/ (noun): Extra copies of data that can be used to restore the original in case of loss or corruption.
How much do you know?
Who is mentioned as a technology reporter in the text?
Which region had damaged undersea cables according to the text?
What is the main purpose of undersea cables mentioned in the text?
Which organization is mentioned to be patrolling the Baltic Sea to protect undersea cables?
Which company is mentioned in the text to be testing technology to protect undersea cables?
What is the stated limitation of the technology used to protect undersea cables?
Undersea cables are not important for the internet according to the text.
The European Union is not involved in protecting undersea cables according to the text.
AP Sensing is a company mentioned in the text to be testing technology to protect undersea cables.
Damage to undersea cables can cause the internet to stop working completely.
Experts mentioned in the text suggest that anchors from boats can break undersea cables.
Backups are not mentioned in the text as a way to keep the internet working when undersea cables are damaged.
Some companies are using special technology to detect danger near the cables by hearing sounds in the water, such as or underwater drones.
AP Sensing uses sensors on boats and divers to find out how well their system works to protect the cables; they can determine if someone is trying to with it.
According to experts mentioned in the text, undersea cables can still break if boats drag their over them.
The internet usually remains functional even if undersea cables are damaged due to the presence of .
Some limitations of the technology used to protect undersea cables include not working effectively from .
NATO is patrolling the area with planes and ships to keep the undersea cables safe in the .
