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Robot aircraft rides thermal currents to save fuel
Soaring birds use thermal air currents to keep them aloft for hours and save energy; the same principle is now being applied to UAVs
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The science behind the anthrax investigation
For seven years researchers at Sandia National Laboratories worked in secrecy on developing method to identify atnthrax spores; sensitive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allowed researchers to connect the anthrax attacks to the same source
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New U.K. center's mission: Use science to make world safer
The Institute for Security, Science and Technology at Imperial College London will scour the research world for innovations which would make the world safer
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Team Stellar wins U.K. MoD's Grand Challenge
The U.K. Ministry of Defense holds a competition to determine the best autonomous robots that can identify, monitor, and report military threats faced by U.K. troops; Team Stellar, comprising several technology-savvy companies, wins
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Mexicans turn to radio implants as kidnapping for ransom soar
Kidnapping for ransom has become a growth industry in Mexico; in response, more and more Mexicans are having tiny radio transmitters implanted under their skin so they can be quickly tracked and rescued
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Unmanned helicopter to aid in search and rescue
The UAVs will search for people in isolated regions, monitor large-area disasters such as floods or forest fires, sample gas emissions over industrial disaster sites, and act as a communication platform when the regular infrastructure is down
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Grant for hand gesture-computer technology
University of Buffalo researcher develops technology that would allow a user automatically to manipulate a computer through hand gestures
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New three-in-one detection device
Lawrence Livermore researchers develop a “universal point detection system” which can detect explosive, chemical, and biological agents all at the same time
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NASA awards general aviation technology prizes
NASA wants to encourage innovations that would lead to aircraft that are safer, more affordable, easier to fly and also have less of a negative impact on the environment and on the communities that surround airports
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U.K. Grand Challenge mini-vehicle competition held this weekend
Eleven teams made it to the final of the U.K. Ministry of Defense mini-vehicle competition, aiming to promote devising highly autonomous vehicles capable of identifying threats that are being encountered by U.K. troops on overseas operations
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Scientists to study synthetic telepathy
Researchers are lookig into synthetic telepathy — for example, a soldier would “think” a message to be transmitted and a computer-based speech recognition system would decode the EEG signals and transmit the thought to its intended target
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Simple aluminum structure protects against explosions
Norwegian researchers develop a simple aluminum structure which is made of double-walled panel that can be filled with a suitable heavy substance found on site, such as dirt, sand, gravel, or pebbles
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Can New York City's infrastructure handle climate change's consequences?
Mayor Michael Bloomberg sets up a panel of experts to examine whether NYC can cope with flooded subway tunnels, rising sea levels, intense heat, and other consequences of climate change
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ITT awarded contracts for land mine jammers
EDO makes the Warlock jammer, a derivative of its earlier “Shortstop” product; EDO has a new name for the anti-IED device — CVRJ (CREW Vehicle Receiver/Jammer) — and a new owner — ITT; company wins a new contract, worth up to $1 billion, for its jammer
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Commercial use of invisibility cloak now within sight
Researchers engineer 3-D materials that can reverse the natural direction of visible and near-infrared light, thus forming the basis for higher resolution optical imaging — and for cloaking devices that could render objects invisible to the human eye
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The long view
Encryption Breakthrough Lays Groundwork for Privacy-Preserving AI Models
In an era where data privacy concerns loom large, a new approach in artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape how sensitive information is processed. New AI framework enables secure neural network computation without sacrificing accuracy.
AI-Controlled Fighter Jets May Be Closer Than We Think — and Would Change the Face of Warfare
Could we be on the verge of an era where fighter jets take flight without pilots – and are controlled by artificial intelligence (AI)? US R Adm Michael Donnelly recently said that an upcoming combat jet could be the navy’s last one with a pilot in the cockpit.
The Potential Impact of Seabed Mining on Critical Mineral Supply Chains and Global Geopolitics
The potential emergence of a seabed mining industry has important ramifications for the diversification of critical mineral supply chains, revenues for developing nations with substantial terrestrial mining sectors, and global geopolitics.
AI and the Future of the U.S. Electric Grid
Despite its age, the U.S. electric grid remains one of the great workhorses of modern life. Whether it can maintain that performance over the next few years may determine how well the U.S. competes in an AI-driven world.
Using Liquid Air for Grid-Scale Energy Storage
New research finds liquid air energy storage could be the lowest-cost option for ensuring a continuous power supply on a future grid dominated by carbon-free but intermittent sources of electricity.
Enhanced Geothermal Systems: A Promising Source of Round-the-Clock Energy
With its capacity to provide 24/7 power, many are warming up to the prospect of geothermal energy. Scientists are currently working to advance human-made reservoirs in Earth’s deep subsurface to stimulate the activity that exists within natural geothermal systems.