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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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Cyber mishap causes nuclear power plant shutdown
Worries about critical infrastructure vulnerabilities: The move to SCADA systems boosts efficiency at utilities because it allows workers to operate equipment remotely, but experts say it also exposes these once-closed systems to cyber attacks
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Uranium report: Plenty more of the ore is available
Renewed interest in nuclear power increases new investments and expenditures for uranium exploration more than 254 percent over the two-year period from 2004 to 2006; new report says supply sufficient for next century
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World's oil reserves may be twice as large as currently estimated
U.K. expert blames flawed statistical tools used by oil companies in estimating the size of oil reserves for creating an impression of oil scarcity
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Top ten rules for IT security
Uniloc offers ten useful rules to keep the organization’s networks safe from intruders and hackers;
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Flood protection call for utilities
Twelve months after the devastating U.K. floods a government agency says much more must be done to tackle the vulnerability of buildings such as power stations and hospitals to flooding
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New compression technique makes VoIP vulnerable to eavesdropping
New VoIP compression technique, called variable bit rate compression, produces different size packets of data for different sounds; simply measuring the size of packets — without even decoding them — can identify whole words and phrases with a high rate of accuracy
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WiMAX patent alliance formed to promote the standard
WiMAX has so far failed to deliver on the promise inerent in it; six WiMAX big hitters create a patent alliance which will allow for quicker and smoother adoption of the technology
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Chinese cyber-attacks target U.S. lawmakers
Computers in the office of a Virgnia congressman targted by Chinese hackers; information on four computers in the office of Congressman Frank Wolf, a harsh critic of China’s human rights record, compromised
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New system analyzes urban traffic patterns
What will happen to traffic patterns if a new office building, sports arena, or other major facility is built? New software helps urban planners analyze and predict such patterns
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The long view
Nuclear Has Changed. Will the U.S. Change with It?
Fueled by artificial intelligence, cloud service providers, and ambitious new climate regulations, U.S. demand for carbon-free electricity is on the rise. In response, analysts and lawmakers are taking a fresh look at a controversial energy source: nuclear power.
Water Is the Other U.S.-Mexico Border Crisis, and the Supply Crunch Is Getting Worse
The United States and Mexico are aware of the political and economic importance of the border region. But if water scarcity worsens, it could supplant other border priorities. The two countries should recognize that conditions are deteriorating and update the existing cross-border governance regime so that it reflects today’s new water realities.
Exploring the New Nuclear Energy Landscape
In the last few years, the U.S. has seen a resurgence of interest in nuclear energy and its potential for helping meet the nation’s growing demands for clean electricity and energy security. Meanwhile, nuclear energy technologies themselves have advanced, opening up new possibilities for their use.