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This week in 1941: Galloping Gertie bridge collapses
The Tacoma Narrows bridge, known as Galloping Gertie, was a 5,000 ft-long, two-lane suspension bridge — the third longest of its kind in the world; it was the first suspension bridge to use plate girders, rather than open lattice beam trusses, to support the roadbed meaning that wind could not pass through the truss but was diverted above and below the structure; 67 years ago this week the wind was just too strong
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Gustav brings down cell, Internet service
Power outages caused by Hurricane Gustav brought down cellular and Internet service in parts of Louisiana, but the storm’s impact was much milder than Katrina’s
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Resident of Belgian city to be monitored after nuclear leak
Residents of the Hainaut village of Lambusart will undergo medical checkups and be tested for radiation over the next few days
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Thai anti-government protests spread to utilities and transportation
Thai anti-government protesters strike country’s infrastructure; transportation, communication, utilities, water are affected
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Virtualization is important for back up and recovery
Server virtualization, that is, the separation of functionality from the underlying hardware, offers organizations many advantages in preparing for coping with and recovering from disasters, but it is not a panacea
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D.C. tests interoperable public safety system
Interoperability between radio and mobile Internet sought, and new technology — called Radio Over Wireless Broadband, or ROW-B — has the potential to save first responders time in an emergency
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China quake forces rethink over hazard maps
Following the Sichuan earthquake, in which more than 65,000 people died, researchers say that similar regions may also be in danger and that seismic hazard maps should be redrawn
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Cyber war fears grow after Georgia Web sites attacked
Analysis of the attacks on official Georgia’s Web sites during and following the 8 August Russian incursion lead experts to suspect that rather than initiated by the Russian government, the attacks were the result of cyber “militias” or “hacktivists”; this is worrisome because it highlights the ability of small bands of hackers, let alone governments, to disrupt communication networks and critical infrastructure
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Data breaches in U.S. already surpass 2007 total
The number of reported data breaches in the United States has already surpassed 2007’s total; more states now require breach reporting; experts also say that the development of SQL injections made breaches much easier
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Canada's crumbling infrastructure reaching critical point
New study says $200 billion needed to shore up Canada’s infrastructure in order to keep private sector competitive
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Pennsylvania power grid not keeping up with needs
Upgrades to the state’s power grid critical for energy reliability, advocates say; they argue that electricity infrastructure has taken a backseat to alternative energy and rate caps
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Bay Area's FasTrak road tolls easy to hack
Toll transponders can be cloned, allowing fraudsters to travel for free while others unwittingly foot the bill; more seriously, criminals could use the FasTrak system to create false alibis by overwriting one’s own ID onto another driver’s device before committing a crime
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New analysis of earthquake zone raises questions
Oregon State University researchers offer a new analysis of an earthquake fault line that extends some 200 miles off the southern and central Oregon coast that they say is more active than the San Andreas Fault in California
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Aussie student has answer to save Earth from asteroid attack
The bomb dropped on Hiroshima had an explosive yield of 12.5 kiloton; asteroid Apophis, which is now hurtling toward Earth and which will come uncomfortably close to our planet in 2029, packs a punch of 1,375,000 kilotons; competitions are being held to find the best way to stop it in its tracks
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New system thwarts Internet eavesdropping
The growth of wireless networks has increased the risk of eavesdropping on Internet communications; Carnegie Mellon researchers develop a low-cost system that can thwart these Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks
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The long view
Water Wars: A Historic Agreement Between Mexico and US Is Ramping Up Border Tension
As climate change drives rising temperatures and changes in rainfall, Mexico and the US are in the middle of a conflict over water, putting an additional strain on their relationship. Partly due to constant droughts, Mexico has struggled to maintain its water deliveries for much of the last 25 years, deliveries to which it is obligated by a 1944 water-sharing agreement between the two countries.
Trump Is Fast-Tracking New Coal Mines — Even When They Don’t Make Economic Sense
In Appalachian Tennessee, mines shut down and couldn’t pay their debts. Now a new one is opening under the guise of an “energy emergency.”
Smaller Nuclear Reactors Spark Renewed Interest in a Once-Shunned Energy Source
In the past two years, half the states have taken action to promote nuclear power, from creating nuclear task forces to integrating nuclear into long-term energy plans.
Keeping the Lights on with Nuclear Waste: Radiochemistry Transforms Nuclear Waste into Strategic Materials
How UNLV radiochemistry is pioneering the future of energy in the Southwest by salvaging strategic materials from nuclear dumps –and making it safe.
Model Predicts Long-Term Effects of Nuclear Waste on Underground Disposal Systems
The simulations matched results from an underground lab experiment in Switzerland, suggesting modeling could be used to validate the safety of nuclear disposal sites.