What is the internet?

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What is the internet?

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Your smart watch alerts you of a new social media post from a friend. She just shared a video of her dog jumping in mud. You probably don’t think at all about how that video got to you. Or consider how your emojis will get back to your friend.
You and your friend could be on the same block, or on two different continents, yet the internet connects you. Almost like magic. But the internet is not magic. The simple explanation is that the internet “is a network of computers where people can share information,” says Anne Lee. She is an expert in telecommunications at Nokia Bell Labs in Naperville, Ill.
Telecommunications includes any exchange of information — also called data — over a distance. The global internet is more than just computers, though. It’s a massive structure, with components that crisscross the globe. Cables snake below your feet. Wireless signals fly over your head. Numerous devices hide within your community. Your devices tap into this structure whenever they exchange data.
When the internet first became commonplace, people called it the “information superhighway.” Thinking about roads can really help you understand how it all works.


Cables are the roads of the Cables are the roads of the internet
When your family goes on a road trip, you probably start out on smaller side streets. Then you merge onto a highway where you can travel quickly with lots of other drivers. The internet’s infrastructure is similar. Its vast network of roadlike cables direct data from far-flung places toward large central channels. Traveling data are even called “internet traffic.”
Fiber-optic cables are the roads of the internet. They contain glass filaments that carry data as bursts of light. Over 500 of these cables stretch beneath the oceans. Even more are buried underground or strung up on poles. If you could stretch out all the fiber-optic cable on Earth end-to-end, it would reach around 4 billion kilometers (2.5 billion miles).
All that cable would stretch from the sun past the orbit of Uranus! Just as roads have different numbers of lanes, these cables also come in different sizes.
Bigger cables with more filaments can carry more data at once. Bandwidth is the rate of data passing through every second. The thickest cables, about the size of a garden hose, are like an interstate highway. They have the highest bandwidth.


Routers and exchanges are like intersections
Traveling somewhere on roads requires making lots of turns. Devices called routers exist anywhere that internet cables come together, like an intersection where roads meet. These devices direct data toward a final destination.
If the ISPs that operate different networks of cables and routers kept their systems separate, that would be a problem. It would be like having entire road systems that people couldn’t reach. To connect the entire world, ISPs have to link up.


Data centers are like parking garages
It may seem like your friend’s silly dog video went directly from her device to yours. But that’s not usually what happens. When people share, or upload, a video or anything else to the internet, the content ends up in a building called a data center.
This is like a parking garage for data. A data center is filled with computers called servers. It also contains systems to supply electricity and keep everything cool. Videos and other content sit waiting on those servers until someone asks for them. But that’s not all servers do. They also store the programs required to run many of the apps and software that you use. Keeping content and pro-
grams in a data center means that these files and programs are available whenever anyone wants to use them. So your devices don’t need to keep a copy of every single program or piece of content you need. And your devices can be quite small in size.


Wireless goes off-road
For a car to get somewhere, there generally has to be a road to follow. Internet data, though, can easily go off-road. That’s because data can travel through the air in the form of radio signals. A home or business often has its own Wi-Fi network. In a simple home network, there’s just one router. It has an antenna that sends and receives radio signals from all the devices in the home.
If you are outside without any Wi-Fi, you can often still use the internet. You have to connect to a cellular network. This network uses tall structures called cell towers to send and receive radio signals. You can often see these towers when you’re out driving around. “They have what looks like plates at the top,” says Lee.
“Those are antennas.” Cellular networks also contain smaller antennas that aren’t as easy to notice. Wi-Fi routers and cellular antennas have cables that connect them to the rest of the network.
Each cellular antenna can only reach devices located within a certain radius. 5G antennas send signals at the fastest rates.This gives people the highest internet speeds. But these signals also reach the shortest distance. In many areas, wireless antennas are spaced around 1.6 to 5 kilometers (about 1 to 3 miles) apart.


A video’s internet road trip
Imagine that you just captured a pic of your cat yawning. You know your friends would love it. You tap to post it to a shared photo album. That single tap triggers a flurry of activity. First, says Lee, “the picture itself is broken up into small pieces.” These are called packets. Each packet gets bundled with a lot of extra information, such as what the picture is and how to put its packets back together. There’s also info on how to fix any errors that might happen during the journey.
And there may be a layer of encryption to keep the packet safe, so no one but the receiver can read its data. There are also two addresses, one for the sender (you) and another for the receiver. If you’re using an Apple device, the receiver would be a server inside a data center owned by Apple. That data center may be located quite far from you.
Your device sends these packets out into the air as radio signals. The router in your home picks up the signals. It sends them into the fiber-optic network. Now, they are traveling as bursts of light. The packets zip along through many routers and cables. They pass through internet exchange points. 

Source: Myawady Daily Newspaper

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A portion of the proceeds from certain shades goes toward coral reef restoration efforts. Coral reefs are essential for marine biodiversity, but they are threatened by ocean warming and pollution. International environmental laws and agreements, like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), aim to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable use of ocean resources.So next time you apply that perfect shade of coral lipstick, remember that you’re not just enhancing your look—you’re supporting global efforts to protect the planet’s ecosystems.4. Online Shopping and Consumer ProtectionClicked "Buy Now" on Amazon or Temu recently? Your online purchase is more connected to international law than you think.International trade agreements ensure that goods can be imported and exported across borders efficiently. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) sets the framework for international commerce, ensuring fair trade practices and reducing trade barriers.Consumer protection laws, including intellectual property agreements, also protect you from counterfeit products and fraud. Cybersecurity agreements between countries work behind the scenes to protect your personal data when you enter your credit card details online.So next time your package arrives at your door, remember that international law helped make it possible—safely and legally.5. Health and Global PandemicsThe COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how interconnected the world is—and how crucial international cooperation is in times of crisis.The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a key role in coordinating global health responses. Its regulations on disease reporting and health emergencies ensure that outbreaks are tracked and managed quickly. The WHO also works with governments and pharmaceutical companies to ensure that vaccines and treatments are distributed fairly.International law also governs medical research and the sharing of scientific data. Agreements like the Nagoya Protocol regulate the use of genetic resources, ensuring that the benefits of medical discoveries are shared globally.From vaccine rollouts to international travel restrictions, global health law shapes how the world responds to public health emergencies—protecting you and your community.6. Social Media and Digital PrivacyScrolling through Facebook or TikTok? Even social media is shaped by international law.Data privacy regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union set standards for how social media companies collect, store, and use your personal information. Many platforms follow these guidelines globally, which means that your data is protected even if you're not in the EU.International agreements on cybercrime also regulate how governments respond to hacking, misinformation, and online threats. Your ability to use social media freely and safely is, in part, the result of international legal frameworks that protect online expression and privacy.Why It MattersInternational law isn’t just about treaties and court cases—it’s about the invisible rules that make modern life possible. It ensures that you can trade, travel, shop, and communicate across borders with confidence and security.The next time you enjoy a cup of coffee, buy something online, or book a flight, or put on a lipstick, remember that international law is working behind the scenes. It’s not just the domain of diplomats and lawyers—it’s part of the rhythm of everyday life.Understanding international law helps you see the world differently. It shows you how interconnected and interdependent we all are—and why cooperation between nations matters more than ever.So, the next time someone mentions international law, you’ll know it’s not just about politics and treaties—it’s about the small things that make your world go round.Reference List:1.      United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2015). Paris  Agreement. [Link to document or website]2.      World Wildlife Fund (WWF). (n.d.). Plastic pollution. Retrieved from [https://www.wwf.org]3.      Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (n.d.). The Role of Environmental Protection. Retrieved from [https://www.epa.gov]4.      Gomez, S. (2021). Selena Gomez's Lipstick and the Environment. [Source or Article Name].5.      International Criminal Court (ICC). (n.d.). International Law and Environmental Protection. Retrieved from [https://www.icc-cpi.int]6.      Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). Climate Change: The Physical Science Basis. Retrieved from [https://www.ipcc.ch]7.      International Court of Justice (ICJ). (n.d.). International Law on Environmental Protection. Retrieved from [https://www.icj-cij.org]8.      UN Environment Programme (UNEP). (2020). The State of the Environment Report. Retrieved from [https://www.unenvironment.org]9.      The Guardian. (2021). Fashion and Sustainability: What Does the Industry Need to Do?
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