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New biofueled diesel engine developed
U.K. company develops 100 percent-biofueled diesel engine which could help provide electricity to remote communities in the developing world; engine can run on pure biofuel with no additives — but also on a variety of vegetable oils which have not been converted to conventional biofuels
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TSA launches news airport airside and perimeter security
Billions of dollars have been invested in — and strict regulations promulgated for — passenger and baggage screening to prevent explosives from being taken on board; very little money has been invested in and no specific mandates imposed regarding airport perimeter security; TSA is changing this — and also takes the next essential step: coordination among the different money bodies involved in airport perimeter security
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New Trojan targets Australian business bankers
A systematic phishing campaign has been targeting Aussie financial institutions; a Trojan masked as a bank’s security update proceeds to launch a multi-staged attack, looking for not just usernames and passwords, but chat room credentials, secure downloads, and anything the attackers believe may be useful
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Lower Mississippi River region braces for major flood
Floodwaters are projected to crest at St. Louis at 38 feet on 22 or 23 June, marking the eleventh time since the Civil War that St. Louis has reached that flood stage; during the flood of 1993 waters at St. Louis crested at 49.6 feet
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Assessing landslide risk
Researchers develop new technique for assessing areas most at risk from landslides
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New Air Force Cyber Command politically savvy
One way to secure the Hill’s backing — and bucks — for any new program is to spread it over as many states and congressional districts as possible; AFCYBER may be a new outfit, but its leaders are perfectly aware of this old political truth
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Royal Mint issues urgent call for disaster recovery system
Tender comes after critical review warns about inadequate contingency plans
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PG&E in 106 MW combined solar-thermal-biofuel hybrid power
Pacific Gas and Electricity to build a combined solar-thermal-biofuel hybrid power plant in California which will deliver a total of 700 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually of renewable electricity to PG&E customers throughout northern and central parts of the state
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New mercury detector developed
University of Massachusetts researcher develops new mercury detector which detects minute quantities of mercury even in the presence of other metals
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Experts: Surprise quake shows Japan's vulnerability
Saturday’s 7.2 magnitude quake was the most powerful to strike inland Japan in eight years; experts say the Big One may hit anywhere in the country, in a repeat of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake which left 142,807 people dead
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U.K. leads world in nuclear energy investment
Te United Kingdom attracts the world’s leading energy companies to build the country’s next generation of nuclear power stations
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Ocean changes may trigger U.S. megadrought
From AD 800 to 1250 the North American continent suffered from an exceedingly dry period; experts build climate model which shows that the warming of the oceans may lead to another long parched period — what they call “megadrought”
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Security hole exposes utilities to Internet attack
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems remotely manage computers that control machinery, including water supply valves, industrial baking equipment, and security systems at nuclear power plants; security vulnerability is discovered in SCADA — and patched, but other vulnerabilities may remain
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Network penetration competition as part of security training
In recent years the goals of computer hackers have changed; the intent of many hackers used to be the thrill of breaking into a network, now the goal is often money; companies and other organizations had better take network security more seriously.
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German solar sector attracting investors
More and more investors are moving into the German solar energy sector; sector employment should grow from 41,000 jobs last year to around 110,000 by 2020
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More headlines
The long view
Helping Strengthen America’s Critical Infrastructure
By Corinne Dionisio
Everyday life depends on a robust infrastructure network that provides access to running water, communications technology and electricity, among other basic necessities. The experts who keep our national infrastructure secure and resilient also need a strong network to share their knowledge and train the next generation of professionals capable of solving complex infrastructure challenges.
AI and the Future of the U.S. Electric Grid
By Doug Irving
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
By Nancy W. Stauffer
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
By Julie Bobyock and Christina Procopiou
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.
Experts Discuss Geothermal Potential
By Graeme Beardsmore and Rachel Webster, University of Melbourne
Geothermal energy harnesses the heat from within Earth—the term comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). It is an energy source that has the potential to power all our energy needs for billions of years.