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Terrorists use online reality games to rehearse attacks
As terrorists find it more difficult to train in camps which can be monitored and attacked, they turn to online games to practice money laundering, identity theft, and attacks
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Senate passes $40.6 billion DHS budget
Ignoring White House veto threat, Senate adds $5.2 billion to DHS budget; House already passed $36.3 billion DHS appropriation
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U.K. unveils broad counterterrorism measures
Prime Minister Gordon Brown unvelis broad counter-terrorism measures, including unified border police, electronic exit controls at U.K. borders, biometric visas, better critical infrastructure protection, and more
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New quantum key system combines speed, distance
Detection stage of the NIST prototype quantum key distribution system: Photons are “up-converted” from 1310 to 710 nm by one of the two NIST-designed converters at right, then sent to one of two commercial silicon avalanche photo diode units to the left. Credit: NIST
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Day of robot cops nears
Robots of various types — think of bomb disposal robots — are already being depolyed by law enforcement; next generation robots will be more versatile and autonomous
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InRob Tech, Frontline Robotics to collaborate
Two robotics specialists — one Canadian, one Israeli — agree to collaborate in marketing and joint bidding on defense-related robotics projects
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DHS big projects offer opportunities for nimble contractors
Some of DHS’s big projects — EAGLE and non-EAGLE — are underway and they offer opportunities for specialists
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Old screening technique allows probing terrorists' unconscious
SSRM Tek, a psychological screening tool, has been around for a while, but DHS believes it will allow interrogators identify which suspects have truly been engaged in terrorism
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Not lost in translation
The war on terrorism will take U.S. soldiers to every corner of the world where, to be effective, these soldiers will have to mingle with foreign populations in towns and villages; NIST, DARPA want to help
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Extremely thin sheet exhibits extreme strength
University of Chicago and Argonne Lab scientists discover amazing strength in a sheet of nanoparticles that measures just 50 atoms in thickness
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Harvard researchers develop robotic fly for use in surveillance, spying
Researchers develop an artificial fly whic h may be used in surveillance of battlefields, urban environments; the robot’s small size and fly-like appearance are key: “You probably wouldn’t notice a fly in the room, but you certainly would notice a hawk,” team leader says
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U.S. House says modeling, simulation is crtitical technology
Hampton Roads, Virginia, is a national hub for the modeling and simulation industry, and alocal congressman, who heads the Congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus, persuades House of industry’s importance
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Wisconsin DHS security grants cut
Unhappy Badgers contemplate effect of receiving only one-third of $12.8 million in security funding requested from DHS
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A first: FBI installs policeware remotely to trace bomb threat
FBI electronically installs spyware — or, rather, policeware — to MySpace account of a suspect in e-mailing bomb threats to school; suspect nabbed
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Piezoceramics allow for embedded structural monitoring sensors
The integrity of highly stressed materials — helicopter rotors, wind turbine blades — must be regularly checked for structural damage; German research institute develops embedded piezoceramics sensors to do just that
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The long view
Nuclear Has Changed. Will the U.S. Change with It?
Fueled by artificial intelligence, cloud service providers, and ambitious new climate regulations, U.S. demand for carbon-free electricity is on the rise. In response, analysts and lawmakers are taking a fresh look at a controversial energy source: nuclear power.
Huge Areas May Face Possibly Fatal Heat Waves if Warming Continues
A new assessment warns that if Earth’s average temperature reaches 2 degrees C over the preindustrial average, widespread areas may become too hot during extreme heat events for many people to survive without artificial cooling.
Exploring the New Nuclear Energy Landscape
In the last few years, the U.S. has seen a resurgence of interest in nuclear energy and its potential for helping meet the nation’s growing demands for clean electricity and energy security. Meanwhile, nuclear energy technologies themselves have advanced, opening up new possibilities for their use.