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Belgian police employ blind officers to analyze wiretap recordings
As wiretapping of potential criminal and terrorist-related activity in Belgium grows, so is the need of the Belgian police for individuals with acute and sensitive hearing to analyze wiretaps; police found that some blind individuals have that extra sensitivity to sounds which allows them better to analyze wiretaps
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New bomb detector spray
Israeli chemist develops spray that can detect urea nitrate, a powerful explosive that can be created by amateurs; urea nitrate is commonly used by suicide bombers, and was also used in the first attempt on the World Trade Center in 1993
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Battery-powered textile allows for glowing garments
University of Manchester researchers develop yarns which glow in the dark; this is good news for cyclists, joggers, and pedestrians on dark winter days — but also for first responders and police having to operate in buildings or city streets darkened as a result of power outage
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New baggage screening tool
U.K. researchers to combine scattered X-ray signals with high-resolution 3D X-ray images to give baggage screeners previously unseen information regarding luggage size, shape, and chemical composition of the contents contained in the luggage
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TSA tests Auto-EDS at BWI
Last week TSA sent randomly selected passengers at BWI to be screened by a new screening device from a Massachusetts company; the devices use computed axial tomography (CAT), similar to medical scanners
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ICx delivers underwater radiation detection devices
The Coast Guard is bolstering its ability to detect underwater smuggling of nuclear materials into the U.S.; one way to do so is to equip the service with ICx’s identiFINDER-U
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Tartans' “Boss” enters Urban Challenge qualifying rounds
DARPA’s Urban Challenge competition heats up, and “Boss,” Carnegie Mellon University’s Tartan racing team’s modified Chevrolet Tahoe enters the qualifying rounds
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Air Force completes overhaul of global weather sensing system
USAF upgrades, improves global weather monitoring system, allowing “weather conditions almost anywhere to be factored into large-scale operations”
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Chertoff highlights DHS's approach to counter IEDs
IEDs are the signature weapon of the insurgency in Iraq, but they will soon find their way here; DHS secretary discusses the key points at which the IED threat may be countered; technology companies, investors should listen
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Researchers find three never-before-observed isotopes
Michigan State researchers find three never-before-observed isotopes of silicon, aluminum, and magnesium; discovery will allow design engineers to more accurately tailor future materials to applications’ needs
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A few good technologies
DHS’s S&T Directorate helps the IEEE in a conference aiming to explore next-generation technologies capable of deployment within three to five years
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Scientific exchanges in the age of terrorism
How do we reconcile heightened security measures adopted in the wake of 9/11 with the open and free international exchange of scientific experts and ideas? That is the question
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Canada to use UAVs to patrol the arctic circle
Canada plans on buying a fleet of UAV to patrol the arctic ice and water; move but the latest sign of countries bordering the arctic claiming stake to portions of it
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Massive sensor network to monitor Hudson River
The Hudson to become the world’s largest environmental-monitoring system; system may be used to monitor cities’ water systems
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Team MIT invited to race its modified Land Rover in Urban Challenge 2007
Land Rover donated a modified Land Rover LR3 to MIT, and Team MIT has been invited to second qualifying round of DARPA Urban Challenge 2007; final will be held 3 November
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The long view
The Future of Open Data in the Age of AI: Safeguarding Public Assets Amid Growing Private Sector Demands
AI offers immense potential, but that potential must be realized within a framework that protects the public’s right to its own information. The open data movement must evolve to meet this new challenge—not retreat from it.
Horses for Courses: Where Quantum Computing Is, and Isn’t, the Answer
Despite the impressive and undeniable strides quantum computing has made in recent years, it’s important to remain cautious about sweeping claims regarding its transformative potential.
Federal R&D Funding Boosts Productivity for the Whole Economy − Making Big Cuts to Such Government Spending Unwise
Large cuts to government-funded research and development can endanger American innovation – and the vital productivity gains it supports. If the government were to abandon its long-standing practice of investing in R&D, it would significantly slow the pace of U.S. innovation and economic growth.
Why Ukraine’s AI Drones Aren’t a Breakthrough Yet
Machine vision, a form of AI, allows drones to identify and strike targets autonomously. The drones can’t be jammed, and they don’t need continuous monitoring by operators. Despite early hopes, the technology has not yet become a game-changing feature of Ukraine’s battlefield drones. But its time will come.
New Tech Will Make Our Airplanes Safer
Odysight.ai’s technology allows for constant monitoring of aircraft, sending alerts in case of malfunctions that could lead to accidents.
New Technology is Keeping the Skies Safe
DHS S&T Baggage, Cargo, and People Screening (BCP) Program develops state-of-the-art screening solutions to help secure airspace, communities, and borders