Amusing Facts About Modern Servers -and Our Technology!

Published on: January 10, 2025 | 5 minute read

The world of modern servers and technology is filled with fascinating and often amusing facts that show us the quirky side of the many advancements we are afforded as a society. Here are 20 Amusing Facts about servers and technology in general that you may find surprising:

FACT 1: The Weight of the Internet

The whole internet weighs about as much as a strawberry. Surprisingly, the entire internet's weight is estimated to be around 50 grams. This is roughly equivalent to that of a strawberry. This estimate is derived from the weight of the electrons used to transfer data across networks. Considering that the internet is a vast collection of information and connections, this lightweight defies expectations and makes data all the more fascinating.

FACT 2: Origins of the First Web Server

Tim Berners-Lee used a NeXT computer to set up the world's first web server Christmas of 1990. It still exists at CERN, with a label stating, "This machine is a server. Do not power it down!" This server marked the birth of the World Wide Web. It serves as a significant artifact in technology history. The label not just cautions others not to turn it off but also reminds us how this relic laid the groundwork for the interconnected world we enjoy today.

FACT 3: A Bug Named After an Insect

The first computer bug was a literal moth. It was found in a relay of Harvard's Mark II computer in 1947. This incident inspired the term "debugging," after the team at Harvard had to remove the moth lodged in the machine, which had caused the malfunction. This event not only introduced the term but also shows the challenges engineers faced with early computing technology. The humorous anecdote reminds us that even in the realm of sophisticated machines, nature can easily intervene.

FACT 4: More Phones Than People

In Monaco, there are more mobile phones than people, making its mobile penetration rate exceed 100%. This phenomenon is attributed to many residents owning multiple devices and the intense integration of technology into daily lives, with certain regions even showing extreme connectivity typical in an age dominated by smartphones.

FACT 5: Dustbusters from Space

1979. The technology specifically created to collect lunar samples during the Apollo missions was ultimately used to invent the "Dustbuster" vacuum cleaner. The parallel between space exploration and domestic appliances shows us the many unexpected routes technological advancements can take, enriching our lives in unexpected ways.

FACT 6: Tracking Electrical Grievances

Color laser printers secretly print tiny yellow dots on each page that encode the printer’s serial number and the date/time of the print. It is a hidden feature that actually enables tracking. This quirky secret has raised concerns about privacy and surveillance, as it shows how technology can monitor user activity without people realizing it, essentially making your printing devices spies in your own home.

FACT 7: Hacker Refrigerator

2014. A refrigerator was hacked by a botnet that sent out over 750,000+ phishing emails. This is a notable instance of cybersecurity exploitation in an incident that brings into awareness the surprising vulnerabilities associated with smart home appliances. It reminds us that security measures must be taken not just for computers but for every connected device.

FACT 8: The First Digital Camera

The first digital camera, invented by Kodak engineer Steve Sasson in 1975, was the size of a toaster and took 23 seconds to capture a single image. Though rudimentary compared to today's rapid and portable devices, this invention paved the way for the eventual transformation of how we capture and share images.

FACT 9: NASA’s Internet Speed

NASA’s internet speed reaches up to 91 Gbps, which is 13,000 times faster than the typical residential broadband speed. The agency needs rapid data transmission in space exploration. It showcases how different sectors can demand and develop technology that far exceeds everyday standards

FACT 10: Selfies from the 1800s

The first known selfie was taken in 1839. This concept of taking self-portraits using an early photographic technique predates modern technology by many years. It reflects a persistent urge for self-representation.

FACT 11: The Proliferation of Servers

The rapid growth of internet technology led to over 10,000 web servers existing by the end of 1994, just four years after the first web server went live. This rapid expansion underscores the immense public interest in the web and foreshadows the importance of modern server infrastructures in our digital lives today.

FACT 12: The Internet as a Carbon Footprint

While often overlooked, the modern server infrastructure development that hosts websites and online services contributes significantly to global electricity consumption, raising discussions about the environmental impacts of our digital lives. This fact brings attention to concerns about sustainability practices in the tech industry and innovative methods for reducing electricity use.

FACT 13: Evolution of Smart Servers

The concept of smart servers is evolving to include features like self-optimization and automated management, potentially making tech jobs disappear. With advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, modern server architectures are emerging with capabilities like self-optimization and automated management. This evolution enhances efficiency but raises concerns about the future of jobs in the IT sector.

FACT 14: Being Unplugged

Many digital servers are designed to operate with minimal human intervention through technologies like out-of-band management, allowing IT teams to control them remotely. This eliminates the need for physical access, revolutionizing traditional server management and minimizing downtime.

FACT 15: Server Farms are Real

Data centers housing thousands of digital servers are often referred to as server farms, emphasizing the agricultural nature of storing vast digital resources. Clustered together in massive facilities, these farms manage vast amounts of data daily.

FACT 16: Server Types Galore

There are various types of internet servers today, including application servers, file servers, and virtual servers, each serving unique functions in computing. This diversity is crucial for catering to different business needs and technological advancements, showcasing the complexity of modern networks.

FACT 17: The Shift to Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has led to the virtualization of servers, making traditional hardware less important and thus reshaping modern IT infrastructure design entirely. This shift emphasizes flexibility and scalability while providing businesses with new opportunities for storage and data management.

FACT 18: First Email Before the Web

Email was around 20 years before the World Wide Web, with the first one sent in 1971, highlighting how digital communication precedes the Internet as we know it today.

FACT 19: Wi-Fi Powered by Waste

A startup in Kenya converts human waste into energy for Wi-Fi routers, a creative solution to provide internet access, bridging the digital divide in underserved communities.

FACT 20: More Internet Users than Clean Water Access

There are more global internet users than people with access to clean drinking water, a fact that draws attention to the stark disparities in technology access and basic human rights.

In summary…

The entertaining facts about modern servers reveal fascinating insights into the modern server infrastructure and the technology that underpins our digital world. These facts highlight the quirks in the unexpected history of technology. The evolution of digital photography, the integration of smart technology in everyday appliances, and the staggering internet speeds utilized by agencies like NASA illustrate both advancements and challenges in a rapidly digitizing world.

Moreover, the environmental consequences of operating modern servers and the profound disparities between global internet users and those lacking access to clean water could spark important discussions about sustainability and social responsibility. The use of creative solutions—such as generating energy for Wi-Fi from human waste—demonstrates the innovative spirit at play in addressing these hurdles. While modern server hardware and other physical advancements ensures that technology can still align with societal needs.

UNIXSurplus celebrates the entertaining and informative aspects of modern web servers and the technology surrounding them by providing you, our valued clients, with the best products. We offer server racks specifically designed to provide optimal support and cooling for critical equipment, energy-efficient servers for diverse computing needs, and innovative products to enhance the performance of your business while maintaining operational costs.