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A period of darkness followed after World War II for a number of reasons — one of them being the limited access to sweets and sugar. Between 1942 and 1953, the UK imposed sugar rationing to prevent hoarding, where sugar intake averaged at 40 grams per day. And this purported deprivation had some surprisingly positive effects! Recent research on individuals born in the 1950s has revealed a startling connection between early life sugar exposure and the development of chronic diseases like <keyword id="20902" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="type-2-diabetes" source="Orion">type 2 diabetes</keyword> and <keyword id="22984" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hypertension" source="Orion">hypertension</keyword> later in life. The study found that limiting sugar intake during the critical first 1,000 days of life — from conception to nearly age three — can significantly reduce the risk of these conditions. Published in the journal Science, the study analysed data from the UK Biobank and compared the health outcomes of individuals born before and after the end of World War II sugar rationing in 1953 — after which sugar and sweet intake doubled to 80 grams per day. Notably, overall nutrient intake remained relatively stable during the rationing, with protein and fat consumption largely unaffected by the rationing policies, as per the study. The researchers discovered that those exposed to lower sugar levels during this period had a 35% reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a 20% reduced risk of hypertension. Moreover, the onset of these diseases was delayed by four and two years, respectively. “Sugar early in life is the new tobacco, and we should treat it as such by holding food companies accountable to reformulate baby foods with healthier options and regulate the marketing and tax sugary foods targeted at kids,” says Paul Gertler, one of the study’s authors and a professor of economics at the University of California. The study suggests that even in-utero sugar exposure can have long-lasting health consequences. Limiting sugar intake during pregnancy and early childhood can provide significant protection against future health problems. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112411685" title="Diet soda fans, look out for this ingredient — it may increase your risk of blood clots and heart problems, scientists say" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

“Sugar early in life is the new tobacco”: Scientists urge food companies to reformulate baby foods and tax sugary options

<ul><li><keyword id="20058929" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Energy-Exchange" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Energy Exchange" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian Energy Exchange">Indian Energy Exchange</keyword> recorded a 24% year-on-year growth in monthly volume in September 2024.</li><li>The electricity volume, including <keyword id="22675612" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-electricity" source="keywords">green electricity</keyword>, reached 10,332 MU.</li><li>India's <keyword id="20028292" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-consumption" source="keywords">energy consumption</keyword> remained relatively stable at 141.3 billion units (BUs) in September 2024.</li></ul>Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), India's leading electricity exchange, experienced significant growth in September 2024 with a record monthly volume of 11,370 MU, representing a 24% year-on-year (YoY) growth. Electricity volume, including green electricity, reached 10,332 MU, reflecting a 21% YoY increase, while <keyword id="21681994" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy-certificates" source="keywords">renewable energy certificates</keyword> (RECs) doubled to 1,031 MU compared to the same period last year. The REC market witnessed a historic low price of ₹110 per certificate during a trading session, offering a favourable opportunity for obligated entities to meet their renewable purchase obligations and for voluntary customers to achieve sustainability goals. India's energy consumption remained relatively stable at 141.3 billion units (BUs) in September 2024, according to government data. A steady monsoon boosted hydro and wind power generation, leading to reduced prices in the Day-Ahead Market (DAM) and Real-Time Market (RTM). The Day-Ahead Market (DAM) witnessed robust growth, with volumes increasing 33% YoY to 4,610 MU in September 2024. Over the quarter, DAM registered 14,332 MU, a 27% increase compared to Q2FY24. Real-Time <keyword id="22699214" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electricity-market" source="keywords">Electricity Market</keyword> (RTM) achieved its highest-ever monthly volume of 3,913 MU, a 34% YoY rise. RTM's quarterly volume reached 10,732 MU, up 31% YoY. In contrast, the Day-Ahead Contingency and Term-Ahead Market (TAM) experienced a decline, trading 1,086 MU in September 2024 and 2,684 MU during Q2FY25, down by 43% and 42% YoY, respectively. IEX's Green Market, comprising the Green Day-Ahead Market (G-DAM) and Green Term-Ahead Market (G-TAM), recorded an extraordinary 214% YoY increase, trading 723 MU in September 2024. The quarterly total for the Green Market stood at 2,584 MU, a massive 246% YoY growth. The REC market achieved a milestone with 1,031 MU traded in September 2024, a 100% YoY increase. The clearing prices for the two trading sessions on 11th and 25th September were ₹112/REC and ₹110/REC, respectively, the lowest-ever price since the market's inception. The quarterly total volume reached 6,297 MU, a remarkable 353% YoY growth. With inputs from ANI. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/september-auto-sales-automakers-report-a-decline-mahindra-and-mahindra-overtakes-tata-motors/articleshow/113925972.cms">September Auto sales – Automakers report a decline, Mahindra and Mahindra overtakes Tata Motors</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ola-electric-continues-to-lose-market-share-as-bajaj-auto-and-tvs-motor-gain/articleshow/113900252.cms">Ola Electric continues to lose market share as Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor gain</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/airtel-is-using-ai-powered-technology-to-block-spam-calls-and-messages/articleshow/113691942.cms">Airtel is using AI-powered technology to block spam calls and messages</a>

Indian Energy Exchange records 24% growth in September 2024

India's services sector showed robust expansion in October, per the <keyword id="22267674" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="HSBC-India-Services-PMI" source="keywords">HSBC India Services PMI</keyword> (Purchasing Managers' Index), which rose to 58.5 last month, up from September's ten-month low of 57.7. October's figures managed to exceed even the long-run PMI average of 54.1, largely on the back of a strong sales pipeline and elevated demand. Employment, or job creation in this sector accelerated to its fastest growth rate in 26 months. Anticipating solid, sustained demand in the near term, firms added new employees at the most rapid pace in over 2 years. October also saw <keyword id="23834175" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="input-costs-rise" source="keywords">input costs rise</keyword> at their fastest pace in 3 months, indicating renewed demand and economic activity in the country. The ISM Services PMI, an indicator of the economic health of the US, also exceeded expectations, reaching 56.0 compared to the forecasted 53.8, suggesting strong growth within the services sector. "During October, the Indian services sector experienced strong expansions in output and consumer demand, as well as job creation, which achieved a 26-month high," said Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist at HSBC. The sector saw increased business activity across multiple fronts, with export sales showing significant growth and companies reporting stronger demand from international markets including Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and the UK. However, industry experts remain cautiously optimistic about the sector's prospects. Suman Chowdhury, Chief Economist at Acuité Ratings &amp; Research, noted that while the October recovery is promising, several factors warrant careful monitoring. “The recovery in the PMI indices in October 2024 is promising for the second half of the fiscal after the dip in several high-frequency indicators in September 2024. Industrial and service activity has expectedly received a boost from the anticipated spike in consumption demand in Q3 FY25, driven by the festivities and the marriage season," she said. Chowdhury added that it will be crucial to monitor the sustainability of these PMI indices at these elevated levels, given the reported weakness in urban demand in Q2 as flagged by FMCG companies. She also noted that potential increases in wholesale and core retail inflation, combined with higher input costs and wage pressures, could delay expected interest rate cuts. RBI governor Shaktikanta Das also noted that inflation and CPI figures for October might be elevated, pushing ahead any chances of interest rate cuts in the near future. Acuité Ratings &amp; Research maintains its GDP growth forecast at 7.0% for FY25 while acknowledging the multiple downside risks that will require close observation in the coming months.

India's Services Index jumps to 58.5 in October as employment grows the fastest in 26 months

As <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/can-ai-be-a-solution-to-the-climate-crisis-2023-5">Luccioni</a> shows me a digital map that tabulates real-time data on electricity consumption and carbon intensity, she explains it's her "favorite website."Her enthusiasm carries over into her role as AI &amp; Climate Lead at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hugging-face-open-source-ai-approach-2023-12">Hugging Face</a>, where Luccioni collects actionable data on AI's environmental impact.She has her work cut out for her, especially as companies like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jensen-huang-nvidia-robots-huamanoid-self-driving-cars-2024-9">Nvidia</a> and Google, which design AI chips, become more secretive about their proprietary offerings."The difficulty is that there's this race to secrecy," Luccioni said. "Since ChatGPT came on in November 2022, companies have really cracked down on how much information they share about their models."Luccioni codeveloped and regularly contributes to <a target="_blank" href="https://codecarbon.io/">CodeCarbon</a>, a program that helps developers estimate emissions and energy use from running AI models. Luccioni says tens of thousands of people have cited the program. She's most proud of how it allows technologists to act on their concern for the environment and benchmark against actual data.Meta recently used the tool to estimate emissions from running one of its <a target="_blank" href="https://huggingface.co/meta-llama/Meta-Llama-3-8B">latest Llama models</a>."Where the energy is coming from is really the biggest impact on emissions," Luccioni said. "The issue is that most supercomputers, be it Google Cloud, Azure, or AWS, are located in places that are not powered by renewable energy, mostly natural gas and coal, and that makes a huge difference."One of her latest projects should make it less opaque to understand how much energy and computing power popular AI models and tools use. This work, done with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, is expected to eventually help establish an energy-efficiency rating standard for AI models. She likens it to an<a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=4eff6049c33f6535f47c8f7e8ac1b3b733fd4f8c291fd482d249faf13be5d56f&amp;postID=66faf5cee5b54083003ce06c&amp;postSlug=sasha-luccioni-hugging-face-ai-power-list-2024&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-02680-3"> Energy Star rating</a>."The EPA adopted this trust-based approach, but in the case of AI it would be a bit harder to adopt that approach because there are so many variables," she said. "You have to define specific data sets and specific hardware to compare these models."As <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-value-estimate-20-trillion-tech-wave">AI's value soars, possibly into the trillions,</a> Luccioni's work will help document the tech's toll on electric grids and, ultimately, the environment."You train a model once, but you deploy for a while. Even quantifying the amount of energy per query or per day is really powerful," Luccioni said. "In the long term, it really adds ups."See Business Insider's full <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://businessinsider.com/ai-power-list-2024">AI Power List</a>

Sasha Luccioni tracks data about AI's impact on the environment

Global <keyword id="19978688" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="gold-demand" source="keywords">gold demand</keyword> in Q2 2024, excluding over-the-counter (OTC) transactions declined by 6% year-on-year to 929 tonnes, primarily due to a sharp fall in jewelry consumption, according to the latest report of the <keyword id="20195223" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Gold-Council" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Gold Council" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="World Gold Council">World Gold Council</keyword>. However, when including <keyword id="22654356" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="OTC-investment" source="keywords">OTC investment</keyword>, total gold demand increased by 4% YoY to 1,258 tonnes, marking the highest Q2 figure since data collection began in 2000. The record-high <keyword id="19910265" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-prices" source="keywords">gold prices</keyword> took a significant toll on jewelry consumption. Volumes fell 19% YoY to 391 tonnes, the lowest in four years. The report reveals a mixed picture for the Indian market in the second quarter of 2024. While overall gold demand showed a modest increase due to investment in OTC markets and central bank purchases, India witnessed trends that reflect broader market shifts. This decline reflects the impact of elevated gold prices on consumer purchasing behaviour, particularly in markets sensitive to price fluctuations, including India. <keyword id="19946830" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="central-banks" source="keywords">Central banks</keyword> continued to be significant players in the gold market, with net gold buying increasing by 6% YoY to 184 tonnes. This rise is attributed to the need for portfolio protection and diversification in a volatile economic environment. In June alone, central banks reported net purchases of 12 tonnes, with key contributors including the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and the Reserve Bank of India, both adding 9 tonnes to their reserves. The Monetary Authority of Singapore was noted as the largest seller, offloading 12 tonnes in the same month. The LBMA (PM) gold price averaged a record $ 2,338 per ounce in Q2 2024, up 18% YoY and 13% QoQ. Gold prices peaked at a new high of $2,427 per ounce in May. This environment drove significant investment and production trends, with total gold supply growing by 4% YoY to 1,258 tonnes. Mine production reached a record 929 tonnes for a second quarter, while recycling supply was the highest since 2012, reflecting the response to rising prices. OTC investment was a major component of the Q2 total gold demand, amounting to 329 tonnes. This, along with continued central bank buying, contributed to pushing gold prices to record highs during the quarter. Despite a minor 7-tonne decline in global gold <keyword id="19930506" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="etf" source="keywords">ETF</keyword> holdings in Q2, this was an improvement compared to the 21-tonne drop in Q2 2023. The decline in ETF holdings was followed by early outflows and nascent inflows later in the quarter. Retail bar and coin investment experienced a 5% decline to 261 tonnes, mainly due to weakened demand from Western markets. Conversely, gold used in technology saw an 11% YoY increase, driven by the continued growth in <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">artificial intelligence</keyword> (AI) applications. <keyword id="21088407" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="investment-trends" source="keywords">Investment trends</keyword> continued to diverge regionally. Eastern markets exhibited robust demand for bars, coins, and ETFs, while Western markets saw marked declines. However, Western ETF investment flows have shown signs of recovery in early Q3 2024. Looking ahead to the full year of 2024, it is expected that revived Western investment flows will help balance out weaker consumer demand, and potentially slower central bank buying, compared to 2023.

Global gold demand drops 6% in Q2 2024 due to slump in jewelry consumption, OTC investment pushes the total to record high

India is already grappling with a significant <keyword id="22641561" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer-burden" source="keywords">cancer burden</keyword>, having recorded about 12 lakh new cancer cases and 9.3 lakh cancer deaths in 2019. Even as the <keyword id="22641562" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthcare-struggle" source="keywords">healthcare struggle</keyword> continues, new research has shed light on an emerging crisis. Analysing data from over 23 million US cancer patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2019, the study found that <keyword id="22641557" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer-incidence-rates" source="keywords">cancer incidence rates</keyword> have surged among <keyword id="22641558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="younger-generations" source="keywords">younger generations</keyword> for 17 out of 34 cancer types, such as breast, pancreatic, and gastric cancers. <h2>Younger populations more prone</h2>In particular, people born in 1990 have notably higher rates of pancreatic, kidney, and small intestinal cancers compared to those born in 1955. Women in particular are seeing higher rates of liver cancer. Mortality rates are also on the rise for liver cancer (in women), uterine corpus, gallbladder, testicular, and colorectal cancers. The analysis showed that incidence rates have risen with each successive birth cohort since around 1920 for eight types of cancer. The incidence rate for the 1990 birth cohort is approximately two-to-three times higher than for the 1955 birth cohort for pancreatic, kidney, and small intestinal cancers in both men and women, and for liver cancer in women. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112062293" title="Cancers in head and neck rising, account for 26% cases in India: Study" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Furthermore, incidence rates increased in younger cohorts after a decline in older ones for nine cancers, including oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, uterine corpus cancer, colorectal cancer, non-cardia gastric cancer, gallbladder cancer, ovarian cancer, testicular cancer, anal cancer in men, and Kaposi sarcoma in men. Across various cancer types, the incidence rate in the 1990 birth cohort ranged from 12% higher for ovarian cancer to 169% higher for uterine corpus cancer compared to the birth cohort with the lowest incidence rate. Mortality rates also increased in younger cohorts for liver cancer (female only), uterine corpus, gallbladder, testicular, and colorectal cancers. <h2>Differing socioeconomic factors to blame</h2>The study’s lead author, Dr Hyuna Sung, emphasised that these increases may be linked to unique social, economic, and environmental factors faced by different birth cohorts during their developmental years. However, the precise reasons for these rising rates remain unclear. If this trend is representative for the rest of the world, it is epecially alarming for India, where the cancer burden is already projected to increase to 29.8 million disability-adjusted life years by 2025. Many experts have blamed factors such as <keyword id="20026286" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lifestyle-changes" source="keywords">lifestyle changes</keyword>, <keyword id="22641563" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="increased-consumption" source="keywords">increased consumption</keyword> of processed foods, tobacco use, and <keyword id="21456186" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="environmental-pollution" source="keywords">environmental pollution</keyword> for this growing problem, <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112013660" title="Fad-busters: “Sunscreen” pills are the new trend in the market — but should you be taking them?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>“The increase in cancer rates among this younger group of people indicate generational shifts in cancer risk and often serve as an early indicator of future cancer burden in the country,” notes another study author Dr Ahmedin Jemal. “Without effective population-level interventions, and as the elevated risk in younger generations is carried over as individuals age, an overall increase in cancer burden could occur in the future, halting or reversing decades of progress against the disease,” added.” The findings of this research have been published in The Lancet Public Health and can be accessed <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(24)00156-7/fulltext" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>.

Millennial and Gen X are developing 17 types of cancers far more frequently than older generations, study finds

Around 26 per cent of <keyword id="19896991" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer" source="keywords">cancer</keyword> patients in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> have tumours in the head and neck, and there is an upward trend of such cases in the country, a study has found. The findings of the study, conducted on 1,869 cancer patients across the country, were released on the World <keyword id="20775483" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="head-and-neck-cancer" source="keywords">Head and Neck Cancer</keyword> Day observed on Saturday. Cancer Mukt Bharat Foundation, a Delhi-based non-profit organisation, conducted the study by collating data from calls received on its helpline number from March 1 to June 30. Dr. Ashish Gupta, a senior oncologist who is heading the Cancer Mukt Bharat Campaign in India, said that India is seeing surge in head and neck cancer cases, especially among young men, due to increased <keyword id="20681485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tobacco-consumption" source="keywords">tobacco consumption</keyword> and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. "Around 80-90 pc of oral cancer patients have been found to use tobacco in some form, be it smoking or chewing. Most of the head and neck cancer are preventable, unlike other cancers for which the reason is unknown. It is a preventable cancer that can be prevented with lifestyle modification. "There is a need to raise awareness to quit tobacco and early check-ups for early pickup of the disease," Gupta said. In India, nearly two-thirds of cancer cases are detected late likely due to low adoption of proper screening, he said. Gupta added that the Cancer Mukt Bharat campaign aims to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer on individuals and communities through education and early detection. "If found early in stages one or two, most head and neck cancers are curable in more than 80 pc of patients. In the field of cancer treatment, we get new medicines almost every week which can treat cancer in better way leading to better outcomes and good quality of life. "A combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy can be used for treating head and neck cancer. Latest cancer treatment has evolved to prioritize not just curing the disease, but also ensuring a good quality of life for survivors," he said. Under the Cancer Mukt Bharat Campaign, a free national helpline number (93-555-20202) was launched recently, which is operational from 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. Cancer patients can call on this number to speak to leading oncologists directly or even do a video call to discuss about their treatment without paying any fees. Head and neck cancer was closely followed by gastrointestinal cancers which was 16 per cent. Fufteen per cent cancers in India re breast cancers and and blood cancers make up 9 per cent of them. These data are in line with the latest GLOBOCAN data -- a database that gives global cancer statistics -- on India. GLOBOCON data is part of International Agency for Research on Cancer's Global Cancer Observatory. India is expected to have 2.1 million new cancer cases by 2040, a big jump from the numbers in 2020, as per a recent GLOBOCAN report. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/apple-to-manufacture-iphone-16-pro-models-in-india-soon-after-launch/articleshow/112045172.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/apple-to-manufacture-iphone-16-pro-models-in-india-soon-after-launch/articleshow/112045172.cms" target="_blank">Apple to manufacture iPhone 16 Pro models in India soon after launch</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/pixel-9-series-design-and-specs-revealed-ahead-of-launch-next-month/articleshow/112039063.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/pixel-9-series-design-and-specs-revealed-ahead-of-launch-next-month/articleshow/112039063.cms" target="_blank">Pixel 9 series design and specs revealed ahead of launch next month</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/akums-drugs-ipo-opens-soon-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112033450.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/akums-drugs-ipo-opens-soon-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112033450.cms" target="_blank">Akums Drugs IPO opens soon – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a>

Cancers in head and neck rising, account for 26% cases in India: Study

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Stocks were mostly lower on Wednesday after a fresh batch of economic data points. </li><li>US real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.8% in the third quarter.</li></ul>US stocks wavered on Wednesday as a combination of data releases left investors with a strong impression of the US economy.Third-quarter <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gdp-gross-domestic-product-third-quarter-economy-2024-10">US real GDP increased at an annualized rate of 2.8%</a>. Though slightly below forecasts, the reading still points to a strong economy and isn't likely to ramp up the urgency on the part of the Federal Reserve to rapidly cut interest rates to prop up growth. Meanwhile, the personal consumption expenditures index rose 2.2% year over year last month. The Fed's preferred inflation gauge was slightly higher than expected but still within striking distance of the central bankers' 2% target. "Growth up, inflation down is precisely what you want to see. The Fed doesn't need to be afraid of a stable and growing economy to normalize rates this cycle so long as disinflation persists," Harris Financial Group managing partner Jamie Cox said.Rounding out Wednesday's data were private payrolls for October, which showed hiring rose at the fastest pace in a year, increasing by 233,000, according to ADP. The data, along with the October nonfarm payroll report due on Friday, will inform the Fed's next move at its meeting next week. The odds of a quarter-point interest rate cut stand at 98.2%, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.Meanwhile, investors are monitoring a slew of upcoming earnings from key companies. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/googl-stock">Alphabet</a> shares surged 5% shortly after the opening bell after <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-third-quarter-earnings-report-q3-2024-2024-10#:~:text=Revenue%20from%20Google%20Cloud%20grew,%25%20in%20after%2Dhours%20trading.&amp;text=Alphabet%20and%20Google%20CEO%20Sundar,investments%20were%20%22paying%20off.%22">exceeding third-quarter earnings expectations</a>.Shares of <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/msft-stock?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Microsoft</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/meta-stock?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Meta</a> are also trading higher as traders anticipate their <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/meta-q3-earnings-preview-meta-stock-price-ai-growth-guidance-2024-10?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">financial results</a> on Wednesday after the closing bell. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/aapl-stock?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Apple</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/amzn-stock">Amazon</a> are on deck to report after the close on Thursday.Here's where US indexes stood at the 9:30 a.m. opening bell on Wednesday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,832.88, down 0.01%<a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 42,214.85, down 0.04% (-18.20 points)</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 18,727.14, up 0.11% </li></ul>Here's what else is going on:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/trump-tariffs-china-election-consumer-stocks-earnings-ubs-2024-10?_gl=1*1ehsglt*_ga*MTMxNDIwNDI1Ni4xNjc1Njg3OTU4*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMDI5MDk5MS43NzYuMS4xNzMwMjkxNzY4LjYwLjAuMA..">UBS lists three consumer stocks that could see earnings plunge </a>under Trump's tariffs.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/matthew-fox">Trump's Truth Social has overtaken the valuation of Elon Musk's X.</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-betting-odds-trump-vs-harris-polymarket-kalshi-robinhood-2024-10">The election cycle has led to an explosion in the betting market</a>.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">West Texas Intermediate</a> crude oil rose 1.58% to $68.26 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, climbed 1.56% at $72.23 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Gold</a> inched up 0.60% to $2,798 an ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury yield fell three basis points to 4.238%.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Bitcoin</a> slid 1.48% to $71,741.57.

Stock market today: Indexes slip as traders digest GDP and inflation data ahead of more big earnings

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A rare bee species reportedly threw a wrench in Meta's plans for an AI data center.</li><li>Meta planned to build a facility to run on nuclear power, but the bees complicated matters, FT said.</li></ul>In <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-happy-spending-big-ai-2024-10">the race to build out AI infrastructure</a>, Meta met an unlikely roadblock in one case: bees.A rare species of the insect threw a wrench in the company's plans for an AI data center, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ft.com/content/ed602e09-6c40-4979-aff9-7453ee28406a">the Financial Times</a> reported Monday.Meta had been in talks with a nuclear power plant operator for a US data center to support <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-meta-nvidia-h100-chip-cluster-llama-4-2024-10">the company's AI work</a>, per the FT. However, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in an all-hands gathering that the discovery of the bee species at a location next to the planned plant was partly responsible for upending the plans, the FT reported, citing two people familiar with the meeting.Regulatory challenges were also a factor, according to the FT. The newspaper didn't name the power plant operator or say where the site was set to be. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-stock-earnings-report-call-live-updates-2024-10">Meta said in its latest earnings report</a> that it expects "a significant acceleration in infrastructure expense growth next year" and "significant capital expenditures growth in 2025," owing in no small part to its work on AI.Meta isn't the only tech giant spending big on infrastructure for its AI ambitions. Rivals, including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, also invest billions in data centers to power their AI. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-nuclear-power-ai-data-centers-2024-10">Last</a><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-nuclear-power-ai-data-centers-2024-10"> month, Google announced a partnership to buy nuclear energy</a> from small modular reactors to be built by Kairos Power, making it the first tech giant to broker a deal for new nuclear power plants.Amazon plans to spend about $150 billion on data centers by 2040, Bloomberg <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-28/amazon-bets-150-billion-on-data-centers-required-for-ai-boom?embedded-checkout=true">reported</a> in March. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-data-centers-delays-costs-power-labor-shortages-aws-ai-2024-10">The company could roll out as many as 240 new data centers by 2040</a>, Marc Wulfraat, the president of the consulting firm MWPVL, previously told BI, citing the massive square footage at the company's disposal by way of its leasing space in buildings shared with other firms.In September, Microsoft signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with energy company Constellation in a deal that would <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/three-mile-island-nuclear-plant-reopens-power-microsoft-ai-push-2024-9">bring back online part of Three Mile Island</a>, the site of the US's worst nuclear energy accident.The boom in data centers to power AI also comes with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-generative-ai-environment-climate-change-global-emissions-2023-9">high costs environmentally</a>, not just financially. In the US, data centers are expected to reach 35 gigawatts of power consumption annually by 2040, up from 17 gigawatts in 2022, according to a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/investing-in-the-rising-data-center-economy">McKinsey analysis</a>.Meta did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

A rare bee species reportedly put an end to Meta's plans for a nuclear-powered AI data center

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Electricity and labor headwinds slow Amazon's data center buildout.</li><li>The company's predicament highlights challenges faced by the broader cloud industry.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-big-tech-cash-king-wall-street-wants-a-piece-2024-10">Amazon</a> is spending heavily on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-energy-centers-water-energy-land-2023-10">data centers</a> to support booming <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ai-sales-machine-aws-google-microsoft-pressure-pay-speed-2024-9">AI</a> workloads, putting it on pace to build 240 new facilities by 2040, according to one estimate.These plans are increasingly running into physical constraints that are slowing the buildout, according to an internal document, people familiar with the matter, and emails obtained through a public-records request."Across the AMER region, we are experiencing headwinds in power, zoning and permitting, water, and workforce/labor that are providing challenges to our long-term capacity growth," the internal document stated, referring to the Americas market, Amazon's largest.As the biggest cloud provider, Amazon's predicament highlights broader <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-energy-centers-water-energy-land-2023-10">problems</a> facing the tech industry as generative <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ai-sales-machine-aws-google-microsoft-pressure-pay-speed-2024-9">AI</a> upends the status quo. While more companies want access to cloud computing for AI initiatives, there's only so much power, water, and labor available to support these services.It's not just an Amazon problem. Sequoia Capital general partner David Cahn recently predicted data center delays across the sector."The need for more power and a better functioning grid was clear before AI," he wrote in a blog post. "Now, it is becoming urgent."<h2 id="4e19455f-0a20-458d-a775-e305cc9aed23">Energy demand is growing</h2>It may be natural for a company like Amazon, one of the largest and fastest-growing data center operators, to face these challenges when it is expanding at breakneck speed.Marc Wulfraat, president of consulting firm MWPVL, told BI that Amazon is probably rolling out even more than 240 data centers in coming years. That's because the cloud giant also leases space in buildings shared with other companies. Collectively, this building spree amounts to almost 75 million gross square feet of space, according to his estimates. That's the equivalent of roughly 27 Empire State Buildings.In an email to BI, Amazon's spokesperson said customers' energy demand "continues to grow," and the company is continuously working on ways to "efficiently build and operate data centers" to meet their needs."Nobody knows better than we do that building data centers is exceptionally complex, and by embracing that challenge, we've become really good at it over the years," the spokesperson added. "We're confident we can continue to build at a rapid pace to provide the cloud capacity our customers will need."<h2 id="3ffef594-735b-4945-a7b0-176832400209">Doubts about electricity supply</h2>Power might be the most scarce resource. US data center electricity consumption is forecast to triple by 2030, according to <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bcg-on-energy_the-impact-of-genai-in-electricity-activity-7112787574032674816-uDEX/">Boston Consulting Group</a>, much of it to power generative AI. Bernstein Research recently <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-centers-us-power-grid-gpu-nvidia-cerebras-amazon-2024-7">estimated</a> that electricity demand for AI data centers could exceed supply in just two years without action.At Amazon, electricity shortages have been a major concern and a topic of almost every leadership meeting in recent years, according to the people familiar with the matter.Amazon is experiencing power-supply issues in Oregon, Ohio, and Northern Virginia, according to the internal document from May. For example, it noted that PacifiCorp, Amazon's Portland-based utility partner, has electricity shortfalls and generation constraints forecasted until 2030.This is leaving Amazon with unpredictable energy supply in some markets and a possible loss of "bridging" solutions that help maintain power during the early stages of construction."With the utility power headwind, we are seeing continued risk driven by transmission constraints as well as unexpected changes to committed/available generation, gaps in promised vs delivered incremental power, and potential loss of bridging power as utility infrastructure projects are delayed," the document explained.<h2 id="e085ef5b-5190-4456-935c-6cab05b23795">'Zombie' data centers</h2>In some markets, so-called "zombie" data centers exist. That's a term used by some Amazon employees who spoke with Business Insider about the electricity-supply problems.These facilities are also described internally as "operationally blocked" because the data centers can sometimes sit idle as they don't have access to enough power to run them, according to the people familiar with the matter.Amazon's spokesperson told BI the company is not familiar with these terms, but said there are a "very small number of cases" where the company decides to complete data center construction before building power is available. "These situations are all managed as part of the standard course of business," the spokesperson added.<div type="image" title="AWS CEO Matt Garman" height="4320" width="6751" msid="114502575" hostid="261" sizebytes="742626"></div>Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman recently spoke publicly about challenges related to AI data center buildouts, including accessing enough GPUs and power.During a podcast interview in August, he said customer demand is "mind boggling," which is requiring "a lot of investment.""We're probably going to be tight for the next little bit of time," Garman added.<h2 id="d47a3f17-b6c1-4c0c-91d9-5918b3a4761f">'Mosquitoes to light'</h2>The company is on the hunt for more energy. It's conducting "power studies" with utility partners to evaluate additional transmission capacity, which could result in more power allocation, according to the internal document.The company is also working on ways to reclaim stranded and retired power, the document said, likely in reference to the practice of redeveloping old power plants that have become inactive for economic or sustainability reasons.Amazon has been more actively seeking partnership opportunities with third-party colocation data center providers, one of the people said. At these facilities, Amazon would simply lease space, transferring the need to secure power to the data centers' owners.Additionally, Amazon has started looking beyond well-established data center markets, such as Northern Virginia and Arizona, and is expanding into newer regions like Indiana. Crowded data center regions are running out of power and other resources, making newer locations <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-centers-energy-cloud-microsoft-chatpgt-amazon-google-2023-7">more appealing</a>.The company is also more aggressively pursuing alternative energy sources. Last week, Amazon <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-invests-in-nuclear-for-aws-following-google-and-microsoft-2024-10">unveiled</a> a plan to lead a $500 million funding round to develop small modular nuclear reactors, following an earlier announcement to purchase a nuclear power plant in rural Pennsylvania."It's almost like mosquitoes to light — we are attracted to power," one of the people familiar told BI.Amazon's spokesperson said the company's data center expansion strategy considers several factors, including system resiliency and latency, the availability of renewable energy, and the local government's long-term commitment. Amazon is also constantly seeking ways to make its data centers more energy efficient by using carbon-free resources, in-house processors, and natural air cooling systems, the spokesperson said.<h2 id="82c2fbef-48d1-4af8-8635-cf74ee12697d">Higher costs in Silicon Valley</h2>In some cases, Amazon is paying higher prices to get its new data centers up and running.One example is an Amazon facility in Santa Clara, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. For the last 2 years, Amazon has held talks with the city of Santa Clara to secure power for a new data center located near Levi's Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://santaclara.granicus.com/player/clip/2140?view_id=1&amp;meta_id=190407&amp;redirect=true">city council meeting</a> held in July.Amazon is in talks for a 15-year, 20-megawatt proposal for this facility under the condition that the company pays the full cost of the energy, whether it uses the power or not, Manuel Pineda, the chief electric utility officer of the City of Santa Clara, said during the meeting. Amazon will have to pay up to 50% higher rates than normal and will be entitled to additional "financial assurances" to cover any contractual risks, Pineda added.As part of the deal, Amazon also plans to use the 20-megawatt power agreement for a second building on-site, which currently has no electric capacity, according to Pineda.Amazon's spokesperson told BI that this arrangement has not been finalized, and the project is progressing as expected.<div type="image" title="AWS Santa Clara data center planning slide" height="586" width="1056" msid="114502585" hostid="261" sizebytes="101810"></div><h2 id="5e7acce5-2a9c-4e0c-873a-74b683e1b0a3">Amazon escalates Santa Clara delays</h2>Amazon appears to be dealing with further delays in Santa Clara. On August 28, an AWS employee wrote to a city official about another facility, a former Owens Corning factory the company purchased in 2023. The email discussed delays at the site and noted that the problems are raising concerns internally at Amazon."Delays as significant as this unfortunately impact our ability to serve our customers which has resulted in escalation," said the email, which was obtained by BI through a public-records request.The next day, another Amazon employee wrote to a Santa Clara city official. "This is time sensitive," the staffer said. "AWS executives are highly concerned about the constant push in the results."<h2 id="a5ae3cc3-4484-42c7-a232-b1135b2bd3e0">'Straining' water infrastructure</h2>Another problem is water supply. A growing number of data centers rely on water instead of air to cool the servers and other equipment inside the facilities. This liquid-cooling technology <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/arizona-running-out-of-water-data-centers-blame-microsoft-google-2023-6">requires a lot of water</a>.Amazon is "straining local jurisdictions' existing infrastructure" for water in some regions and is "dependent on long-term infrastructure upgrades or building our own solutions" to mitigate the issue, the internal document stated.There are zoning and permitting problems, too. Some local jurisdictions are not supporting the re-zoning of industrial property for data center use and have stricter environmental regulations, the document explained. Amazon is "working proactively" with local municipalities to solve these challenges, as they can impact its "future capacity options," the document added.Amazon is "one of the world's most water efficient operators" and its data centers are much more water efficient than the industry average, the company's spokesperson told BI.<h2 id="74b62895-25bd-411f-8890-035613989c55">'Lack of available skilled labor'</h2>An even bigger problem may be a lack of skilled electricians to build and run these data centers, according to the internal document and people directly involved in these Amazon projects.Electrical work is a major part of data center construction. But Amazon has struggled to find enough people to do the jobs, especially in rural areas, these people said. Amazon has talked to local colleges, general contractors, and labor unions in certain markets to increase the supply of electricians, one of the people said.<div type="image" title="amazon data center oregon" height="3072" width="4608" msid="114502582" hostid="261" sizebytes="883326"></div>A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/27/americas-demand-skilled-electricians-boom.html">shortage of skilled electricians</a> is a growing industry problem. According to last year's <a target="_blank" href="https://datacenter.uptimeinstitute.com/rs/711-RIA-145/images/2023StaffingSurvey.Report.12152023.pdf">Uptime Institute Data Center Staffing Survey</a>, more than half of respondents said they struggled to fill open positions due to demand outstripping supply."For workforce/labor, we are seeing a lack of available skilled labor," Amazon's internal document stated. "Which requires us to prioritize where we allocate these resources, and we are becoming increasingly reliant on more expensive travelling [primarily] electricians."Amazon's spokesperson shared <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/our-upskilling-2025-programs">blog posts</a> detailing its <a target="_blank" href="https://aws.amazon.com/government-education/workforce-development/aws-fiber-optic-fusion-splicing/">training programs</a> in this space, adding, "AWS has established a number of workforce development programs and collaborations with education institutions to help ensure a strong pipeline of talent."Do you work at Amazon? Got a tip?Contact the reporter, Eugene Kim, via the encrypted-messaging apps Signal or Telegram (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="c-link">+1-650-942-3061</a>) or email (<a target="_blank" href="mailto:ekim@businessinsider.com">ekim@businessinsider.com</a>). Reach out using a nonwork device. Check out Business Insider's <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-guide-to-securely-sharing-whistleblower-information-about-powerful-institutions-2021-10">source guide</a> for other tips on sharing information securely.

Amazon's AI data center dream runs into the reality of 'zombie' facilities, higher costs, and labor shortages 

<keyword id="14117895" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Non-coffee-drinkers" source="Orion">Non-coffee drinkers</keyword> who sat for six or more hours a day were found to be almost 60% higher <keyword id="22174767" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="risk-of-dying" source="keywords">risk of dying</keyword> as compared to <keyword id="2026305" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="coffee-drinkers" source="Orion">coffee drinkers</keyword> sitting for less than six hours. This was revealed in a research published in the journal BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health. This indicates an increased risk of dying in <keyword id="22174766" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sedentary" source="keywords">sedentary</keyword> people who were not consuming <keyword id="20121157" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="coffee" source="keywords">coffee</keyword>, but not among those drinking coffee, researchers following over 10,000 adults in the US for up to 13 years said. The researchers at the Medical College of Soochow University's School of Public Health in China also found that sedentary coffee drinkers were at a 24% lower risk of death as compared to non-coffee drinkers sitting for at least six hours a day. The result, not featuring in the study, was calculated at The <keyword id="19991946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="washington-post" source="keywords">Washington Post</keyword>'s request, according to the media website's report. "The benefits of <keyword id="20931" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="coffee-consumption" source="Orion">coffee consumption</keyword> in improving overall survival in adults compared to sedentary behaviour are manifold," the authors wrote in the study. Consuming coffee lowers risk of metabolic problems which is known to worsen inflammation, which, in turn contributes to heightening <keyword id="22174768" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="death-risks" source="keywords">death risks</keyword> because of sedentary behaviour, they said. In their study, the authors found that the risk of dying from any cause was lowered by 33% amongst a fourth of all the participants who consumed highest amounts of coffee as compared to non-coffee drinkers. The results were consistent with those from previous studies, which have found a link between drinking more coffee and a lowered risk of dying from any cause and <keyword id="19898369" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heart-disease" source="keywords">heart disease</keyword>, they said. Compounds present in coffee, including caffeine and polyphenols, are <keyword id="20115043" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="anti-inflammatory" source="keywords">anti-inflammatory</keyword> in nature. However, how exactly coffee works in the body to lower risk of dying is still unclear, the researchers said. Further, the team also found that sitting for more than eight hours a day was linked with over 40% higher risk of death from any cause and almost 80% higher risk of dying due to heart disease. For their analysis, the researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which follows Americans' health and nutrition.

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