When was the last time you took a moment to observe the beauty within the cluster of stars, those silver-coloured twinkling diamonds scattered across the dark canvas of nothingness Not recently, right?

Once, there was a time on our blue marble when it used to experience breathtaking darkness, Dimly lit and illuminated only by the twinkling of stars, where the pale pearl companion of earth, aka Moon, acted as the mediator of the sun's rays.

Humanity fundamentally disrupted the improbable long-standing natural rhythms of nature not merely through the discovery of fire, which had provided warmth and light for millennia, but rather through the groundbreaking invention of the electric luminous element—the electric bulb—forever altering the course of civilisation. This innovation illuminated our surroundings in ways that fire could not. 

In this epoch, our reliance on electricity escalated to extraordinary heights, touching unprecedented levels. It permeated every aspect of modern life, from trade, education, agriculture, healthcare to ubiquitous influences. Forging an inseparable bond between humans and this newfound power source. 

Electricity led to the Industrial Revolution, propelling humanity forward towards the age of information- the digital age. 

In the distant past, early humans could only dream of a world where information could be communicated instantly across vast distances, spanning thousands of kilometres long before time could snap its fingers. This is only possible today because of the interconnected network of mere bits of codes that make up the Internet.

It is self-evident that  Internet controls the flow of human life; it is the lifeblood of modern civilisation. With its immense boon, new technologies emerge somewhere on earth with every ticking of the clock. However, it has also introduced vulnerabilities threatening the globe. And no one is adequately prepared for the cascading Failures that could topple systems like a fragile house of cards.

This modern digital age is a triangle having three main components: First, there is the physical infrastructure, which includes the vast network of servers, telecommunications systems, gridlines, power generation plants, etc, that work together to support the flow of digital information. Second, we have the digital software that serves as the backbone of this infrastructure. Finally, as consumers, humans use these technologies and drive their evolution through their needs and interactions. 

Problem

This is an era of an increasingly interconnected web of information driven by evolving technologies and vital systems that underpin modern civilisation.  The relationship between biological evolution and artificial computation has shaped humanity's journey from mere survival to a space filled with possibilities; each door in the hallway of undiscovered things opens new opportunities for limitless exploration and discovery. And the vast majority of the population directly depends on binary energy to ease the standard of existence. 

Existential risks such as Climate change, AI domination or nuclear warfare, and biological or chemical threats garner significant media attention as they are placed strategically to capture headlines. Other existential risks are also there, which are subtle yet equally potent threats that often go unnoticed. They are existential risks, which are more easily improved but generally unseen and are equally threatening dangers that tend to fly under the radar. These threats may be subtler, but they are insidious and dangerous, lurking in the shadows of potential disruptions, and frequently remain unnoticed by the public and policymakers alike.

A significant portion of our focus is on safeguarding digital infrastructure against malicious cyberattacks through malware, viruses, etc. However, the physical infrastructure that underpins our digital networks must also given equally or more attention to unforeseen risks and threats.

As society increasingly relies on digital infrastructure as its foundation, it’s crucial to recognize that this system has become too big to fail, which may cause the societal order to start to break down, and over time, this dependence will only deepen the scale of the magnitude of failure. 

Now, Imagine a scenario with a minor delay of just 20 milliseconds between audio and visual elements throughout the three-hour runtime of an epic Celluloid film. This mere delay substantially demises the viewer's cinematic experience. While the story continues to unfold, this minimal mismatch in audiovisual integration results in the audience's dissatisfaction, resulting in the struggle to connect with the narrative as they are intended to be presented. 

Now, draw an analogy to humanity. Just as this subtle delay can diminish the depth of a film, there are catastrophic events in our world that, while not immediately perceived as threats, can leave a lasting impact on humanity—a dark imprint on our timeline. These events often go unnoticed, overshadowed by more overt crises, yet they require equal attention to mitigate potential risks.

Ignoring these subtle threats can lead to significant societal repercussions, as their cumulative effects may escalate over time. Therefore, it is essential to acknowledge and address these issues, not to eliminate them fully—an impossible task—but to reduce their catastrophic risks. For a more resilient society, prepared to navigate the complexities of our shared future.

Currently, no universally accepted failsafe structure or comprehensive blueprint clearly demonstrates the best practices for effectively addressing and mitigating these complex and multifaceted threats of the uncertain landscape of physical attack in critical infrastructure. 

Humans are more dedicated to being prepared to handle software attacks than multifaced hardware attacks. 

What if scenario 

Digital ecosystems are a critical backbone of advanced society yet highly vulnerable to threats. The stability of digital infrastructure is increasingly essential for the modernisation of our world. 

We term it "Infranerve," denoting the foundational infrastructure that supports all digital and electronic systems, from power grids and data centres to subsea internet cables and satellites.

The possibility of black swan hacking of Infranerve is intensively likely to happen in future, for example, the possibility of a Terrorist organisation or government Seizing control of global Undersea internet optic Cables that are hidden beneath the ocean bed, These Submarine communications cables are the only physical connecting point to all the continents except Antarctica. The most classic chock point of the world’s cyberspace. While it was assumed that the bits of code (internet) travel through the air, it is the ocean’s water that took the shot. Wi-Fi and phone’s internet use radio waves for local communication; those systems eventually link up with physical cables that swiftly carry the information over a series of codes in binary format through the format of photons in the fibre optic cables across continents. Roughly 99% of intercontinental data accounts for the traffic transmitted with undersea cables. Thus, they are becoming vulnerable to attacks by terrorist organisations. Internal and International communications, finance, trade, and even defence operations can be manipulated to disrupt the supply chain at their will. Leading to societal chaos and economic losses in the trillions. This can only be possible if they can locate the vital linking points and systematically seize control of them.  

These submerged cables are actual veins and arteries of modern society rule the ocean floor, silently transmitting enormous amounts of data that fuel the digital landscape upon which we coexist.  Despite their critical importance, the vulnerability of submerged internet cables to terrorist attacks presents a significant and often overlooked threat. It's common to see physical damage from ship anchors, fishing activities, and natural disasters such as earthquakes and underwater landslides. However, it was not planned to counter the terrorist activities properly.

Attack on these cables in a very strategic manner will surely unravel the pandora's box of threats. 

This issue can further be accelerated when there is a hindrance in any portion of a complex electrical Grid network due to an attack or mishap. The electric grid comprises the power generating plant, transformers, transmission lines, substation, distribution lines and consumers. A single point of failure can compromise the entire system, resulting in widespread power outages, communication breakdowns, and severe economic disruptions and can unleash unimaginable chaos. While software issues or cyber-attacks may be rectified with updates or patches, physical damage to the grid will have catastrophic outcomes. The stability of it in an increasingly digital age makes it sensitive to mass failure and targeted manipulation by the government, private organisations and terrorist groups.  

Electromagnetic pulse can suit the perfect position and have the highest probability of happening in future. The destructive potential of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack is a well-documented but underprepared threat. Whether the EMP originates from a high-altitude nuclear detonation, a specialised weapon, or a powerful solar flare, the consequences could be uniform across the entire globe: a total collapse of communication networks and critical infrastructure. 

An EMP attack would harm not just communication lines but also power grids, data centres, satellites, and essentially any infrastructure relying on electronic circuits. The effect would be felt in every corner of the world, with massive outages, economic paralysis, and an inability to coordinate emergency response operations. The vulnerability of the modern digital society to such an event cannot be overstated.

On the other hand, actual satellite-debris collision, not the generalised version by the space organisation where there is a chain reaction of fast-moving debris clutter, increases the chance of creating more of it and ultimately starts damaging the satellites, leading to a domino effect. This issue is already in the process of finding a practical solution. Still, the real  Dilemma comes when there is a breakdown in the Predictive Models that do the collision avoidance manoeuvres to dodge debris. The real issue with satellite collision avoidance isn't just about individual satellites avoiding debris; it's about the collective impact of these manoeuvres on overall space traffic management.

Satellite operations heavily rely on predictive models that simulate the positions and trajectories of all satellites and known space debris. When a single satellite makes a collision avoidance manoeuvre, its path diverges from the original prediction, requiring recalculations for future positioning. When many satellites execute such manoeuvres simultaneously, it complicates modelling the future space environment.

This breakdown in predictive modelling can lead to more significant uncertainty in the trajectory of satellites, increasing the likelihood of unexpected collisions. Frequent unpredictable manoeuvres reduce the effectiveness of predictive models, making space asset’s safety harder to ensure, from Increased Fuel Consumption to Shortened Lifespan of Satellites

 Every satellite starts executing such manoeuvres more frequently, affecting individual satellite missions and impacting the overall sustainability of satellite constellations.

The Kessler Syndrome is a theoretical scenario in which Earth's orbit is overpopulated with objects and debris, preventing the use of satellites in certain sections of Earth's orbit.

Some natural phenomena can might cause even more devastation in Infranerve. Those are  Cosmic Ray Interference and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) 

Vulnerability to Space Weather Events involving solar flares and geomagnetic storms that are too real to handle. Poses a real significant threat. With early to no prediction, these risks can shiver the potential of humanity by pushing progress downwards by a lot.

Disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere caused by solar wind can be seen as auroras, typically at locations close to our north and south poles.  It can last from hours to days, depending on the surge of solar wind. 

Sometimes, the Sun emits a strong surge of solar wind containing large plasma and magnetic fields expulsions from the Sun’s corona, called a coronal mass ejection (CME). Slower CMEs can take several days to arrive, and the fastest Earth-directed CMEs can reach our planet in as little as 15-18 hours. They expand as they propagate away from the Sun, and more powerful CMEs can reach a size comprising nearly a quarter of the space between Earth and the Sun by the time they reach our planet.

The vulnerability of our technological systems to space weather events becomes imperative. During storms, the currents in the ionosphere, as well as the energetic particles that precipitate into the ionosphere, add energy in the form of heat that can increase the density and distribution of density in the upper atmosphere; it can not only impact our navigation, communication and radio signals. Solar flares and geomagnetic storms can induce electric currents in power lines, pipelines, and communication cables, leading to equipment failures, voltage fluctuations, and even blackouts. Satellite operations, GPS navigation, and telecommunications are also at risk, as increased solar activity can interfere with signal transmission and disrupt satellite operations, resulting in global chaos. This affects humans on earth and is even similar and more drastic for the astronauts serving in outer space. 

With time, more and more aspects of life, commerce, and governance are transitioning to digital platforms. From financial transactions to critical healthcare systems, our dependence on digital infrastructure continuously increases. This makes any damage to such infrastructure particularly concerning, as the knock-on effects will touch every part of society.

Whether it is due to cyber-attacks, physical sabotage, or environmental disruptions, the potential for damage is growing, and the consequences are becoming more severe. With everything going digital, it is important to protect these infrastructures and ensure backup systems that can take over seamlessly when necessary.

Solutions 

To mitigate the potential for disruptions, a range of proactive strategies can be employed, one of which is the establishment of a concept we call it “critical bubble.” This new innovative approach focuses on identifying and designating specific key cities within each country, intentionally situated to be disconnected from the primary power grid. These selected cities would function autonomously, equipped with their own reliable power generation sources and independent internet connections. Creating these resilient “disaster-proof” bubbles would ensure continuous connectivity, even in the event of widespread blackouts that could impact central hubs and it will act as self-sustaining mini-networks that can activate in times of crisis. This strategic measure not only protects essential communications but also enhances the overall stability and reliability of critical systems during times of crisis.

Other more essential strategies might be to establish a new organisation dedicated to ensuring the proper and uninterrupted functioning of critical infrastructure against an array of blackswan emergencies. Through collaboration and strategic planning for disruptive events, as if disrupted, could have far-reaching consequences for societies and economies worldwide. 

Let's name it ‘World Critical Infrastructure Organisation’ (WCIO). 

 It will serve as this much-needed global framework, uniting governments, corporations, and international bodies to safeguard the essential systems that sustain modern civilisation with policy formation. Whether it's through advising governments on infrastructure resilience, preparing for AI-human integration challenges, or coordinating responses to catastrophic events, WCIO  will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of infrastructure protection. 

The future demands this type of organisation, which leads in the research and development of technologies, Identifies risks, sets international regulations, norms, and standards, and implements policies for robust security measures before the digital apocalypse, a real doomsday in technical infrastructure.