-
Scientists gain better understanding of physics behind invisibility cloaks
Perfect invisibility cloaks are difficult to achieve, but for many military, law enforcement, and civilian uses, imperfect cloaks may do; one intriguing use of cloaks: Making cities more beautiful by hiding ugly industrial facilities for aesthetic reasons
-
-
Power amplifier to enhance electronic warfare capabilities
BAE and partners will develop a 160-watt solid-state, gallium nitride (GaN) power amplifier for communications, electronic warfare, and radar applications
-
-
U.S. redesigns currency to add security
$776 billion in U.S. currency —70 percent of which in $100 bills — is in circulation, two-thirds of which is held overseas; to make counterfeiting more difficult, a new security thread is approved for the bill
-
-
New tire deflating device obviates need for police car chases
Car-chasing a fleeing criminal at high speeds is dangerous to the police and to innocent bystanders; a Wisconsin company, with help from NASA, designs a “throwable” tire deflating device allowing law enforcement to force fleeing car to stop without giving chase
-
-
U.S. product imports exceeded exports for the first time in 2002
NSF: “The comparative advantage held by U.S. advanced technology producers has narrowed considerably in a matter of a few short years”; U.S. loses ground to China
-
-
New protective clothing options for U.K. school-bound kids
Back to school: U.K. clothing manufactures offer school uniforms with embedded satellite tracking devices — and stab-proof t-shirts, hooded tops, and school blazers
-
-
Cumbersome federal acquisition rules an obstacle to IT flexibility
Cumbersome acquisition rules designed for building weapons systems and computing platforms are hampering adoption of rapidly evolving information technology networks
-
-
High-school team wins dancing robot competition
Israeli students shine at international robotics dancing competition; RobCup, the Japanese organization behind the competiton, aims to foster artificial intelligence and robotics research
-
-
Poultry farmers protest DHS rules over propane tanks
DHS rules that propane gas is a “chemical of interest” — and, under the stipulations of the new chemical plant safety law, hundreds of thousands of U.S. poultry farmers must now register with the agency
-
-
Bulletproof backpacks in U.S.
What’s the world coming to: Massachusetts company does brisk business in bulletproof backpacks for school-bound kids
-
-
Robot wars are a reality, so we should develop rules to govern them
More and more, armies give power of life-and-death decisions to machines without reason or conscience; we may want to pause and reflect on this trend
-
-
Robot pilots prove adept at refuelling tasks
Mid-air refueling is tricky, but DARPA has been testing robots that perform the mission impressively
-
-
Directed-energy gun maker receives more money
Critics charge that Ionatron’s ray-gun idea is a “pipe dream on a fast track to zero,” but the weapon system perseveres, and receives more research money from the military
-
-
Vestal shows hand-grenade watch
California company offers a Grenade Watch: It gives you that chic, snappy suicide-bomber look without having to undergo demanding training in Pakistan, messy explosions, and painful martyrdom
-
-
U.S. military grapples with UAV control questions
As more and more UAVs are deployed in the theater, and as the military envisions a UAV-dependent future, the armed services are locked in a bitter fight over who will control these systems
-
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.