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Chinese develop wave-hugging plane
Harnessing the “ground effect,” a WIG (wing-in-ground) plane flies long distances at the height of but a few metres above the sea surface
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Fake company obtains licence to buy nuclear materials
Sting operation proves that a fake company could obtain a license to buy enough radioactive material to build a dirty bomb
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Demonstration of perpetual motion machine, well, grinds to halt
Irish security company planned to demonstrate a perpetual motion machine last week; demonstration delayed owing to problems
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Gary, Indiana, expands ShotSpotter coverage area
The City of Gary was so pleased with the results of the initial deployment of the gunshot detection and location system, that it is expanding the system’s area of coverage
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One-time passcode generator for mobile devices unveiled
The safest password in the world is one which is used only once, then discarded; California company launches a one-time pass code genrator
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Airwave emergency communication radios "seriously flawed"
In 2002 London launched a £3 billion emergency communication service; 7/7 highlighted shortcomings in the system, and a new study finds that two years later the system is still flawed
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Many 7/7 attack victims are still dealing with its repercussions
Those who survive a terrorist attack have many problems to cope with, and government bureaucracies set up to help vitims are often not as nimble as we would hope
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The day of smart CCTV nears
Developments in observational techniques, when married with remote surveillance cameras, will allow CCTVs not only to identify perpatrators after the fact, but identify them before they commit the terrorist or criminal act
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Surveillance society: CCTVs in the U.K.
The United Kingdom has 1 percent of the world’s population, it occupies 0.2 percent of the world’s inhabitable land mass, but it accounts for more than 20 percent of the world’s CCTV cameras
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Terrorists' tactics may be shifting
In addition to its signature operations, which emphasize long planning and preparation for spectacular attacks, al-Qaeda appears to have launched a parallel track, involving quick-hit strikes against soft Western targets
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Vibration energy harvesting moves forward
The periodic replacement of batteries is not feasible for embedded applications and is highly unattractive in wireless sensor networks containing hundreds of sensor nodes; harvesting vibration energy is the answer
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It could be worse: Doctors may use knowledge, access in plots
The eight suspected arrested in the U.K. after last week’s terror attacks are either doctors or members of the health profession
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Making fertilizer safer
Timothy McVeigh showed how destructive common ferilizers can be; University of Kentucky researcher is trying to make them safer
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State-owned Dubai fund buys stake in EADS
Dubai fund acquires stake in EADS; fund will not seek seat on board or role in management
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DARPA looks to launch UAVs with ballistic missiles
UAVs are used more and more for both intelligence gathering and attack missions; the problem is to bring them on station, and DARPA wants to use ballistic missiles for that
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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.