Grid securityUsing game theory to quantify threats of cyberattacks on power grid

Threat levels for cyberattacks on the power grid are usually labeled high, medium or low, but engineers say this is not good enough: Such judgements are too qualitative and too subjective. Could engineers incorporate scientific methods? Computer algorithms? And given that there are attackers and defenders – just like in a soccer match – could game theory be applied to help with risk assessment, attack-defense modeling and “what-if” contingency analysis that could help mitigate any attacks?

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Coastal perilNew sea-level rise and flood alert network launches

The City of Imperial Beach is a low-lying coastal community south of San Diego that is one of the most vulnerable in California to sea-level rise. During periods of extreme high tides and winter swell, Imperial Beach experiences flooding that impacts residents, businesses and infrastructure. A new program, called Resilient Futures, will significantly upgrade its flood alert capabilities and better prepare for sea-level rise.

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California firesBetter forest management won’t end wildfires, but it can reduce the risks – here’s how

By Courtney Schultz and Cassandra Moseley

President Donald Trump’s recent comments blaming forest managers for catastrophic California wildfires have been met with outrage and ridicule from the wildland fire and forestry community. Not only were these remarks insensitive to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in California – they also reflected a muddled understanding of the interactions between wildfire and forest management. As scientists who study forest policy and community-based collaboration, here is how we understand this relationship.

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Truth decayAn information “echo chamber” impedes flu vaccination for children

Parents who decline to get their child vaccinated against the flu may be exposed to a limited range of information, a new national poll suggests. And depending on which sources parents turn to the most, inaccurate information may influence their decision about flu vaccine for their child.

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The Russia watchDecades of fake news; the Russian disinformation playbook; 2020 elections security concerns, and more

·  Weapons of the weak: Russia and AI-driven asymmetric warfare

·  Decades of fake news, courtesy of the Kremlin

·  Inside the Russian disinformation playbook: Exploit tension, sow chaos

·  Facebook’s ex-security chief meets with Hill lawmakers, cites concerns ahead of 2020 elections

·  Facebook fallout ruptures Democrats’ longtime alliance with Silicon Valley

·  Facebook hired firm with ‘in-house fake news shop’ to combat PR crisis

·  Did Facebook merely ‘deflect’ after realizing Russian disinformation?

·  How Hungary became a weapon of Russian disinformation

·  Here are the MPs that Russian trolls targeted the most

·  New evidence emerges of Steve Bannon and Cambridge Analytica’s role in Brexit

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The Russia connectionU.S. documents suggest charges filed against WikiLeaks founder Assange

U.S. court documents suggest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been criminally charged by prosecutors in a case that could be related to the investigation into Russia’s meddling in the U.S. elections. News outlets report that the disclosure was included as part of a court filing in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, in a case unrelated to Assange.

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Terrorism & social mediaUsing social media to weaken impact of terrorist attacks

Governments and police forces around the world need to beware of the harm caused by mass and social media following terror events. In a new report, leading counter-terrorism experts from around the world offer guidance to authorities to better manage the impacts of terror attacks by harnessing media communication. “People only know what they see or read, so the immediate panic social media – and then on the news – perpetuates rumors and creates fear. This is exactly what terrorists want,” says one expert.

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Chemical weaponsPreventing chemical weapons as sciences advance and converge

Revolutionary advances in science and technology are threatening the ability of the Chemical Weapons Convention to prevent the development, possession and potential use of chemical weapons. Scientists warn of this increased chemical weapons risk, which is the result of rapid scientific change. Alarming examples of the dangers from chemical weapons have been seen recently in the use of industrial chemicals and the nerve agent sarin against civilians in Syria, and in the targeted assassination operations using VX nerve agent in Malaysia and novichok nerve agent in the U.K.

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Infrastructure protectionTechnology assesses bridge safety after powerful storms

Hurricanes and heavy rains often cause strong, overflowing river currents that can damage critical infrastructure, such as bridges. For example, after Hurricane Katrina, many National Guard convoys loaded with aid did not drive on bridges for fear the bridges could not support the heavy trucks. To safely transport, they had to use roundabout roads or boats to reach Katrina survivors. Loose or loosening soil is often the culprit in weakening bridge stability. Thus, an instrument that can quickly assess the soil conditions around bridge pillars is a top priority.

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Our picksWas your voting machine hacked?; surveillance kills freedom; anatomy of a conspiracy theory, and more

·  China violated Obama-Xi cyber pact banning cyber-enabled economic espionage: NSA official

·  Was your voting machine hacked? Without more user-friendly devices, we may not know

·  The new politics of climate change

·  How the generals are routing the policy wonks at the Pentagon

·  Anatomy of a conspiracy theory

·  Inside the shady PR firm that attacked George Soros to help Facebook

·  Warren, 2020 Dems target private immigration detention center operators

·  Surveillance kills freedom by killing experimentation

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