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Laser diodes with world's shortest wavelength for bioterror detection
Currently, the shortest laser diode reported measures 343nm — which is problematic: Most biological molecules show strong absorption in the ultraviolet spectral region ranging from 280nm to 340nm; researchers at Bristol and Sheffield universities fabricate the first 337nm laser diode — allowing for continuous monitoring of biological molecules; technology will also increase capacity for information storage
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Hygiena launches hand-held device for contaminant detection
A New Jersey food processor just went belly up as a result of having to launch the second largest recall of contaminated beef in U.S. history; a California company says that if its hand-held contamination monitor were used, the contaminant would have been found earlier, reducing the size of the recall and the subsequent financial hit
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Uncertainties about nuclear waste storage
The waste created in the production of U.S. nuclear weapons is buried in Hanford, Washington; there is a growing uncertainty about the subsurface paths nuclear contaminants take, where they travel, and how fast
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DHS bolsters anti-IED efforts
Expert say it is only a question of time before IED’s show up on U.S. soil; DHS’s Science & Technology Directorate wants to have technologies on hand to deal with the threat when it materializes
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Inexpensive sensors could capture your every move
A system of cheap and small sensors is similar to, but much simpler than, bats’ ultrasonic echolocation, and together with the motion sensors provides a more accurate overall picture of body movement
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DHS's ambitious nuclear radiation detection plan has its critics
DHS envisions a protective radiation system which will ring the United States with radiation monitors at ports, along isolated sea coasts, traveling the oceans, roaming highways in police cars, and even located at checkpoints and toll booths on routes into major cities — all connected to a central national command center and staffed around the clock; critics have their questions
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Border Web cameras along Texas-Mexico border go online again
Texas governor Rick Perry found the funds to have virtual watch up and running — again — as early as January; Texans can register to have 200 border cameras feed images to their home PCs; if they see people crossing the border, the can call or e-mail authorities
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ECBC recognized for contribution of chemical, biological standoff detection
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center’s research and development of standoff biological and chemical detectors is recognized by the U.S. Army
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CANBERRA offers new interactive CD for popular UltraRadia radiation monitor
Monitoring nuclear radiation and dosage levels is becoming more important for firefighters, HAZMAT teams, paramedics, and other first responders — but also for soldiers in the theater; it is also important for those in the nuclear power industry
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Major conference on illicit nuclear trafficking to open next week
The IAEA next week will hold a major conference on illegal possession and illicit trafficking of nuclear materials; in 1995 the IAEA established the Illicit Trafficking Database; to date, it has received reports on approximately 1,250 incidents
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North Korea argues it had no plan to enrich uranium for weapons
Another potential embarrassment for U.S. intelligence: North Korea says it will prove that it never had the plans or the means to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons
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NIST shows tiny sensor with biomedical, homeland security applications
Tiny sensor can detect magnetic field changes as small as 70 femtoteslas — equivalent to the brain waves of a person daydreaming; in addition to medical uses, sensor may be deployed in airport screening for explosives based on detection of nuclear quadrupole resonance in nitrogen compounds
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Owlstone to customize FAIMS-based chemical detector for military
Subsidiary of Advance Nanotech receives incremental $3.7 million contract from Pentagon to miniaturize its chemical detector
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New bomb detector spray
Israeli chemist develops spray that can detect urea nitrate, a powerful explosive that can be created by amateurs; urea nitrate is commonly used by suicide bombers, and was also used in the first attempt on the World Trade Center in 1993
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ICx delivers underwater radiation detection devices
The Coast Guard is bolstering its ability to detect underwater smuggling of nuclear materials into the U.S.; one way to do so is to equip the service with ICx’s identiFINDER-U
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The long view
What We’ve Learned from Survivors of the Atomic Bombs
Q&A with Dr. Preetha Rajaraman, New Vice Chair for the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.