Our picksWhat Calif.’s Big One Will Look Like | Mind Reading Special Ops | Tornado Shelters, and more

Published 13 December 2019
  • ·  What Would a Devastating Earthquake in California Look Like?
  • ·  How Russian Agents Hunt Down Kremlin Opponents
  • ·  Special Operations Command Made a Mind-Reading Kit for Elite Troops
  • ·  Can Artificial Intelligence Help Prevent Suicides?
  • ·  Twitter Backs Overhaul of Social Media to Stem Disinformation
  • ·  Ohio Offering Homeowners Rebates for Installed Tornado Shelters
  • ·  Can Historic Towns Along Southeast Coast Endure Sea Rise?
  • ·  Senate Advances Legislation to Preserve T-Band Spectrum for Emergency Personnel

What Would a Devastating Earthquake in California Look Like? (By Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times)
An example is the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that hit New Zealand on Feb. 22, 2011, that left physical, economic and psychological aftershocks that continue. The quake redrew the geography of Christchurch, which is flatter and smaller now.

How Russian Agents Hunt Down Kremlin Opponents (Der Spiegel)
A secret Russian death squad appears to be killing Moscow’s enemies in the West in an effort to destabilize Europe. Perpetrators with connections to the Russian government appear to be responsible for the slaying of a Georgian national in Berlin.

Special Operations Command Made a Mind-Reading Kit for Elite Troops (Patrick Tucker, Defense One)
The experimental tool is among several that aim to combine sensors and AI to give U.S. operators a new edge.

Can Artificial Intelligence Help Prevent Suicides? (Daniel Druhora And Amy Blumenthal, USC)
New tool from the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society at USC aims to prevent suicide among youth.

Twitter Backs Overhaul of Social Media to Stem Disinformation (AFP)
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is funding research aimed at changing the way information circulates on social media—with the goal of combating online violence, hate and disinformation.
Dorsey on Tuesday announced he would fund an independent team of five architects, engineers, and designers—dubbed Bluesky—to develop an “open and decentralized standard for social media.”

Ohio Offering Homeowners Rebates for Installed Tornado Shelters (Chris Stewart, Dayton Daily News)
The Ohio Safe Room Rebate Program will take applications from Jan. 6 to April 6. Homeowners that are selected and qualify are eligible for up to 75 percent of the allowable costs used to install and construct a safe room up to a maximum of $4,875.

Can Historic Towns Along Southeast Coast Endure Sea Rise? (Jeffrey Collins, Insurance Journal)
Historic cities and towns along the Southeastern U.S. coast have survived wars, hurricanes, disease outbreaks and other calamities, but now that sea levels are creeping up with no sign of stopping, they face a more existential crisis.

Senate Advances Legislation to Preserve T-Band Spectrum for Emergency Personnel (Brandi Vincent, Nextgov)
Experts agree that Congress must reverse a rule to protect the crucial band set aside specifically for first responders in dense cities.