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FRES competition heats up
U.K. Defense Ministry will announce Friday the initial winner of the first phase of the FRES (Future Rapid Effect System) competition; the largest-ever peace-time contract will see the government spend up to £16 billion on 3,000 armored vehicles (the company to manufacture the vehicles will be selected Friday from the three remaining finalists); £60 billion will be spent on maintaining these vehicles during their service life; BAE says it needs to win the vehicle integrator contract
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Bees' swarm intelligence should be applied to Internet servers
Honeybees manage efficiently and effectively to collect a lot of nectar with limited resources and no central command; Yellow Jacket researchers study how bees do it, and show that the way bees go about allocating resource for nectar collection is suitable for allocation of server resources to serve Web sites
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Math error may risk global e-commerce system
Adi Shamir, one of the developers of RSA public key algorithm, software which is widely used to protect e-commerce transactions from hackers, says that a (as yet hypothetical) math error in a widely used computing chip places the security of the global electronic commerce system at risk
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Laser fingerprint scanner does away with dusting
Breakthrough in finger printing: Indian scientists develop a laser-based finger printing device; devices uses optical coherence tomography (OCT), which is often described as an optical version of ultrasound imaging
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U.K. government looks to private sector, academia for help on security
U.K. Home Office organize a meeting of 150 scientists, venture capitalists, chief executives, and academics to exchange ideas on new capabilities and future research priorities in the figh against terrorism
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CodaOctopus delivers first of three Underwater Inspection Systems to U.S. Coast Guard
CodaOctopus delivers first of three Underwater Inspection Systems (UIS) to U.S. Coast Guard; advanced, versatile system features several advanced technologies which allow for real-time 3D underwater inspection with accurate positioning (up to 10cm) for georeferencing
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Penn State researchers increase data transmission rate of copper cables
Nittany Lions electrical engineers show it is possible to increase the data transmission of Category-7 copper cables used to connect computers to each other and the Internet
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Researchers slow down, stop, and capture light
Slowing light would allow the use of light rather than electrons to store memory, enabling an increase in operating capacity of 1,000 percent by using light’s broad spectrum rather than single electrons
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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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GeoEye's technology monitors endangered gorilla population
Specialist in satellite, aerial, and geospatial information donates high-duality maps of Africa’s Virunga National Park to help in mapping mountain gorilla habitat
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Chinese espionage "single greatest risk" to U.S. technology sector
China’s disregard of intellectual property law is a matter of record; European governments are increasingly alarmed by Chinese intelligence engaging in massive industrial espionage campaign on behalf of Chinese companies; now, congressional panel warns of dire consequences to U.S. technology sector from sustained, sophisticated Chinese espionage campaign
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Pulse power harnessed to defeat IEDs
Texas company wants to use pulse power as the basis of an anti-IED device; DHS will give the company $2.5 million to continue to develop the idea; company says the principle behind the anti-IED device can be use in killing cancer cells, cleansing polluted air, purifying water
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Using pulse power to stop cars in their tracks
A beam of microwave energy could stop vehicles in their tracks; good solution for perimeter defense, security check points, and police car chases; problem is, it may disable electronic systems in the neighborhood
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Using visualization to see through fuzzy data
Finding method in the madness: DHS’s S&T Directorate supports efforts, building on Edward Tufte’s work, to use visualization to find patterns in and make sense of fuzzy data
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Carbon fiber UAV sets flight duration record
QinetiQ Group’s Zephyr breaks record for the longest duration unmanned flight — 54 hours — nearly doubling Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4A Global Hawk 2001 record of 30 hours, 24 minutes
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More headlines
The long view
U.S. Should Build Capacity to Rapidly Detect and Respond to AI Developments
It is imperative to improve near real-time observation and tracking of progress in artificial intelligence (AI), its adoption, and its impacts on the workforce, and to widely share this information to better inform and equip workers and policymakers.
China’s Critical Mineral Strategy Goes Beyond Geopolitics
By Weihuan Zhou
China dominates critical mineral refining but faces its own supply vulnerabilities, highlighting the complexity of global dependencies. A national strategy seeks to balance a focus of robust industrial policy on critical minerals while fostering international cooperation. A balanced approach involving China in global frameworks can reduce geopolitical tensions and foster sustainable supply chain solutions.
Mathematical Models Tackle Covid Infection Dynamics
Even years after the emergence of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the workings of SARS-CoV-2 infection inside the human body, including the early activity of the virus and the role of the body’s immune response, has proved difficult to precisely ascertain.
Calls Grow for Sustainable Governance as Groundwater Resources Become Scarce
The depletion of groundwater resources, driven by unsustainable agricultural practices and increasing demands for food production, is a pressing issue, and it underscores the urgent need for sustainable groundwater governance.
Model Reveals Supply Chain Risks Pose Major Threat to Financial Stability
Supply chain disruptions can magnify financial risks. A new model shows how risks spread from the real economy to the financial sector.
AI Fact Checks Can Increase Belief in False Headlines
Many tech companies and start-ups have touted the potential of automated fact-checking services powered by artificial intelligence to stem the rising tide of online misinformation, but a new study has found that AI-fact checking can, in some cases, actually increase belief in false headlines.