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Senate, House DHS budget bills differ on programs, technologies
The House and Senate versions of the proposed DHS budget are similar in many ways, but also contain important differences on funding for programs, technologies
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Honeywell Micro Air Vehicle deployed in Iraq
Small ducted-fan UAV — 16 pounds in weight, 13 inches in diameter — deployed in combat missions in Iraq; vehicle suitable for law enforcement and first response missions
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CyberBug receives FAA certification
FAA awards small, hand-launched UAV certificate to operate in national airspace; vehicle equally suitable for law enforcement and commercial applications
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Growing interest in autonomous undersea vehicles
UAVs are already widely used by the military, homeland security, and, increasdigly, law enforcement; could AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) be far behind?
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DARPA solicits bids for LANdroids
U.S. military, first responders may scatter droids carrying communication gear to form self-forming, self-healing WiFi network; project aims to improve communication in urban warfare settings
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First round of tests for entrants in DARPA's Urban Challenge
In DARPA’s Grand Challenge, driverless cars competed in traversing a 130-mile course in the Mojave Desert; in Urban Challenge, driverless cars will compete in navigating through urban traffic
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Autonomous see-shoot systems drawing interest
Remotely controlled weapon systems are deployed in the DMZ and around the Gaza strip; we may soon see humans taken out of the see-shoot chain, and such systems deployed around critical infrastructure facilities
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Self-healing plastic demonstrated
University of Illionis researchers show material that can repair itself multiple times without any external intervention
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Identec shows satellite-assisted RFID tag
Security agencies and shippers alike will be able to ascertain “absolute location identification” of tagged assets and personnel
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House deadlocked on DHS budget; Bush threatens veto
Hill Democrats want to add $23 billion, or 6%, to DHS budget over Bush’s February request; White House threatens veto
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Bear-faced robot developed for rescuing wounded troops, first responders
Extracting wounded soldiers from a battlefield — or wounded first responders from a disaster scene — may be dangerous, and a Maryland company is developing a robot to that just that
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EU regulation may limit use of MRI technology
To protect employees in the electricity and mobile-phone industries, the EU formulated regulations limiting exposure to radiation — regulation which may have unintended consequences
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World military spending reaches $1.2 trillion in 2006
SIPRI report says 2006 military spending rose 3.5% over 2005; U.S. spent $529 billion
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New technology to detect common but difficult to detect explosives
MIT researchers synthesized a molecule based on zinc to allow the detection not only of RDX, but of RDX vapors, which are about 1,000 times more difficult to detect than TNT vapors
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U.S. recommends commercial technologies for communication interoperability
While the debate on emergency communication interoperability continues, the U.S. Commerce Department recommends that the federal, state, and local public safety community consider using commercial technologies
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More headlines
The long view
World Risk Report: Where Are Natural Disasters Most Common?
The 2024 World Risk Report is out, highlighting which countries are most at risk from natural disasters, and what can be done to prevent catastrophes and mitigate the effects.
WHO Updates List of Most Dangerous Viruses and Bacteria
The WHO recently published a report outlining the findings of its global pathogen prioritization process that involved more than 200 scientists who evaluated evidence related to 28 viral families and one core group of bacteria, covering 1,652 pathogens.
U.S. Needs New Strategy to Recruit and Retain STEM Talent: Report
The United States should adopt a whole-of-government strategy to recruit and retain talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Because foreign-born talent makes up a significant portion of the STEM workforce in the U.S., it is of critical importance to fostering and sustaining innovation, economic competitiveness, and national security.
AI Poses No Existential Threat to Humanity, New Study Finds
Large language models like ChatGPT cannot learn independently or acquire new skills, meaning they pose no existential threat to humanity.
Could We Use Volcanoes to Make Electricity?
It is challenging, but tapping into the Earth’s natural heat can create a renewable, reliable and clean source of energy. As technology improves, more places around the world will turn to geothermal energy to light up people’s lives. Volcanoes are reminders of a great powerhouse deep underground that’s waiting to be harnessed.
Tracking Down the Asteroid That Sealed the Fate of the Dinosaurs
Geoscientists have led an international study to determine the origin of the huge piece of rock that hit the Earth around 66 million years ago and permanently changed the climate. The asteroid probably came from the outer solar system.