Ebenezer
TheEbenezer News

Science

Everyone hates datacentres. Do wereally need them? – podcast

AI companies have promised us world-shifting technology. But there’s a cost: loud, unsightly datacentres that drain environmental resources. As the government pushes their rapid growth, can local communities do anything to push back? Madeleine Finlay speaks to the Guardian’s glob

Read full story on The Guardian
Presented by Madeleine Finlay with Aisha Down; produced by Madeleine Finlay, Joshan Chana and Jacob Liebenberg; sound design by Joel Cox. The executive producer is Elizabeth Cassin27 Aug 2026, 04:00 amUpdated 5h ago1 min readScienceGlobal
Everyone hates datacentres. Do we really need them? – podcast

GlobalPresented by Madeleine Finlay with Aisha Down; produced by Madeleine Finlay, Joshan Chana and Jacob Liebenberg; sound design by Joel Cox. The executive producer is Elizabeth Cassin

AI companies have promised us world-shifting technology. But there’s a cost: loud, unsightly datacentres that drain environmental resources. As the government pushes their rapid growth, can local communities do anything to push back? Madeleine Finlay speaks to the Guardian’s global technology reporter Aisha Down about the backlash to datacentres across the UK and around the world

For tickets to the Science Weekly live event at the London podcast festival on the future of AI, visit the event page at kingsplace.co.uk

Support the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod

For tickets to the Science Weekly live event at the London podcast festival on the future of AI, visit the event page at kingsplace.co.uk

This report is published with credit to The Guardian. The wire sent a summary; open the original for any extra context. Read on The Guardian

Source: The Guardian · Presented by Madeleine Finlay with Aisha Down; produced by Madeleine Finlay, Joshan Chana and Jacob Liebenberg; sound design by Joel Cox. The executive producer is Elizabeth Cassin. Published 27 Aug 2026, 04:00 am.

Keep reading

Back to the desk