Recommended readingIran’s cyberthreat; surviving tsunamis in the U.S.; floating islands off Louisiana, and more
The Iranian cyberthreat is real; If Trump undermines the Iran deal; Could private flood insurance be cheaper than the NFIP? Surviving a tsunami in the United States; The floating islands of south Louisiana? Could be an option as sea rises; The future of fake news: don’t believe everything you read, see or hear; How do you work out if a signal from space is a message from aliens?
The Iranian Cyberthreat Is Real (Terry Herr and Laura K. Bate, Foreign Policy)
As Trump increasingly boxes in Tehran, U.S. allies should be worried about the potential for a devastating cyberattack from the Islamic Republic.
If Trump Undermines the Iran Deal (Andrew Exum, Defense One)
A report suggests the president is looking for ways to get out of the accord. It says a lot about how he views the world.
Could private flood insurance be cheaper than the NFIP? (Nancy Watkins, Milliman Briefing Paper)
With the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) $24 billion dollars in debt and the deadline to renew the program fast approaching, proposed legislation contains language that would ease regulations on flood insurers in order to encourage the growth of a private market.
Surviving a Tsunami in the United States (Katie Pyzyk, Emergency Management)
A tsunami striking the U.S. mainland might seem far-fetched, but scientists say preparation is crucial because it will happen — it’s just a matter of when.
The floating islands of south Louisiana? Could be an option as sea rises (Tristan Baurick, NOLA)
If you can’t beat the sea, why not join it? That’s the thinking for a team of Dutch engineers developing floating islands that might one day be a remedy for sea level rise in the Netherlands, south Louisiana and other low-lying areas.
The future of fake news: don’t believe everything you read, see or hear (Olivia Solon, Guardian)
A new breed of video and audio manipulation tools allow for the creation of realistic looking news footage, like the now infamous fake Obama speech.
How do you work out if a signal from space is a message from aliens? (Andrew Norton, The Conversation)
Astronomers working at the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico have detected a weird radio signal, spotted when pointing their telescope at the nearby star Ross 128. They’re not getting too excited about the prospect of an alien civilization contacting us just yet, though.
