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Using kites to generate electricity
The amount of power available from wind is related to the cube of its speed; blades at higher altitudes could thus generate up to five times the amount of electricity as at lower altitudes; why, then, not place blades at higher altitudes?
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Smart Grid would contribute to U.S. energy security and sustainability
New report from the Reform Institute examines benefits of a next generation electric power grid for national resilience and energy efficiency
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Decision on national biolab nears
Five states are vying to host to new, $450 million national biolab which will replace the aging Plum island facility; some lawmakers are questioning the selection process: an internal DHS review ranked the Mississippi site in Flora 14th out of 17 sites originally considered, yet it made it to the final five
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UTD students place 2nd in Robotic submarine competition
Students’ 11th-hour changes help propel team to top Ranks in underwater challenge
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DHS prepares for attack during transition
Elaine Duke, DHS’s undersecretary for management: “A lot of acts of terror take place in times of political change, and there’s an awareness of that…. So we’re looking at — when our political employees leave — who acts in their place … in case of an incident”
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San Diego event to discuss robotic platforms -- their role and management
Robotic platforms perform core and more military and first response missions; the Security Network event in San Diego will discuss these platforms, their missions, payload, and management
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Edible optical sensor to watch for bacteria in food
Tufts University researchers demonstrate for the first time that it is possible to design “living” optical elements that could enable an entirely new class of sensors; these sensors would combine sophisticated nanoscale optics with biological readout functions, be biocompatible and biodegradable, and be manufactured and stored at room temperatures without use of toxic chemicals
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Self-healing wire to bolster avaiation safety
In 1996 an explosion downed TWA flight 800 off the shore of Long Island, killing all 230 passengers and crew; University of Dayton researcher who identified a plausible cause of the explosion has developed a self-healing wire designed such explosions in the future
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Military use of robots increases
The U.S. military goal is to have approximately 30 percent of the army be robotic forces by somewhere around 2020; it is well on its way
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Bullet-tagging technology to help combat crime
U.K. researchers develop new bullet-tagging technology: tags are applied to gun cartridges by being embedded in cartridge coatings made from polylactic acid, sucrose ester, and tetrahydrofuran; the tags attach themselves to the hands or gloves of anyone handling the cartridge, but a portion of the tag remains on the cartridge even after it has been fired, making it possible to make a definite link between a cartridge fired during a crime and whoever handled it
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China establishes itself as a physics powerhouse
Published journal articles in nanoscience, with at least one co-author based in China, have seen a 10-fold increase since the beginning of the millennium, rising to more than 10,500 in 2007; China has already overtaken the United Kingdom and Germany in the number of physics papers published and is beginning to nip at the heels of the United States; the verdict on the quality of many of these papers is still out
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NIST tighten rules after plutonium spill in lab
On 9 June about 1/4 gram of powdered plutonium spilled from a vial at a NIST lab in Boulder, Colorado; an investigative committee found that a failure in the safety management system was exacerbated by a “casual and informal research environment that appears to have valued research results above safety considerations”
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Harris shows new multiband software-defined radio
New Unity XG-100 provides direct interoperability to federal, state, and local public safety agencies across multiple frequency bands
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Day of optical communications nears
New technique to compress light could open doors for optical communications; scientists at the University of California-Berkeley have devised a way to squeeze light into tighter spaces than ever thought possible, opening doors to new technology in the fields of optical communications, miniature lasers, and optical computers
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GM opens new powertrain development center
GM, looking to bring more fuel-efficient cars to market more quickly, opens state-of-the-art powertrain development lab
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More headlines
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.