They looked down from space, using satellite images to study whether data centers reshape the communities below. Their findings, based on satellite imagery and economic data from nearly 800 facilities nationwide, reinforce a growing body of research showing that data centers can promise an economic boom but deliver little to no growth beyond their gates. A separate George Mason University analysis found that homes near Northern Virginia data centers tended to sell for more. Experts said data centers can also have the reverse impact: Their constant hum, years of construction and unsightly appearance can lower nearby home values. The satellite images capture the challenge: A data center can light up the night without igniting the local economy.