• "Active cloak" protects buildings from earthquakes

    Researchers say real objects could be cloaked by active cloaking — which means the technology uses devices that actively generate electromagnetic fields rather than being composed of “metamaterials” (exotic metallic substances) that passively shield objects from passing electromagnetic waves

  • TeleContinuity, SRA to support national communication system

    TeleContinuity will help the National Communications System’s (NCS) national security and emergency preparedness programs in providing critical continuity of communications expertise, preserving the ability of federal agencies to maintain Continuity of Government (COG) when it is most vital - during disasters, emergencies, evacuations, or pandemics

  • All-titanium campus bridge show way for defense industry

    University of Akron, Defense Metals Technology Center co-sponsor design contest for titanium pedestrian bridge on university’s campus; titanium is a strong, lightweight, virtually corrosion-proof (but expensive) metal; a high-profile venture demonstrating titanium’s feasibility in commercial infrastructure projects could spark greater demand and open new markets for titanium
    ‘Avant-garde’ all-titanium span could spur other projects - and cut Pentagon’s costs

  • NIST publishes final version of new cybersecurity recommendations

    NIST’s cybersecurity recommendations for government aim to create a unified framework which will result in the defense, intelligence and civil communities using a common strategy to protect critical federal information systems and associated infrastructure

  • Mexican cartels smuggle oil to US

    Mexican drug cartel have a new revenue stream: they siphon oil from Mexican government pipelines and smuggle it into the U.S., where the oil is sold to refineries

  • Power companies seek federal funds for smart grid

    The Obama administration has placed a priority on smart grid technology, and Congress has approved $3.4 billion in federal grants for smart grid projects nationwide

  • Smart grid gold rush

    The competition among companies offering smart grid technology has grown to be pretty fierce in recent years, even more so lately given the $11 billion allocated in the federal government’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act

  • Digital certificate standard compromised by hackers

    Researchers demonstrated exploits against the X.509 standard for digital certificates used by Secure Sockets Layer; Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Lentz, DOD’s chief information assurance officer, cited identity authentication as a key security challenge for the department

  • Cobham reports a 32 percent increase in first-half profits

    Company benefits from strategic investments in military and government markets; its work with M/A-COM, which it acquired from Tyco Electronics in September 2008, had resulted in increased technology collaboration and new contract awards

  • Cybersecurity is now a must for the grid, II

    Cyber security has become a permanent part of running an electric plant because connectivity to the outside world is inevitable; plants are bringing together the expertise of consultants, vendors, and their IT departments to ensure that they are well protected

  • IT graduate sues school over failure to land a job

    Tina Thompson majored in IT studies at Monroe College in the Bronx, New York; she has failed to find an IT job, so she is suing the school for reimbursement of her tuition — $70,000 — plus an additional $2,000 “for the stress I have been going through looking for a full-time job”

  • Hacking schools flourish in China

    Chinese hackers have been on the forefront of sustained hacking and disruption campaign against Western business and government networks — some do it for fun, other for profit, but many do so on behalf of the Chinese government and its many intelligence and military agencies; ever wondered where all these hackers come from? “Hacker schools” are big business in China, generating $34.8 million last year

  • Cybersecurity is now a must for the grid, I

    In past years, electric plants have not worried about cyber security because they did not connect to the outside world; new data systems have changed that for most plants; plants bolster cyber security as NERC starts audits on Internet safety

  • Scientists develop self-healing surface material

    The human skin, when scratched or cut, heals quickly, in most cases leaving no trace of a scar after just a few days; German scientists develop surface material with similar qualities

  • Acting cybersecurity czar resigns

    Melissa Hathaway, acting White House cybersecurity czar who was in charge of preparing the 60-day cybersecurity reviews, resigned; she lost favor with the president’s economic team after she said it should consider options for regulating some private-sector entities to ensure they secure their networks; being a Bush administration hold-over did not help