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UPDATE: NNSA chief fired for Los Alamos security lapses
Linton Brooks gets the axe after a series of breaches expose the weakness of lab cyber-security; failure to do away with removable storage devices in weapons-related computers cited; Energy Department starts the hunt for a replacement
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Coast Guard struggles with maritime surveillance program
Port of Miami once again provides a sorry case study; Maritime Domain Awareness program confuses waves for boats; Coast Guard stops following the radar after too many problems; Automated Identification System a cause for criticism
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DHS increases TWIC issuance fees
Ballooning card production costs force a $10 increase in initial charges, with a $24 increase for replacements; TWIC program looks to manage finances while it sorts out technological challenges
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GW University launches mall guard anti-terror course
DC school teams up with International Council of Shopping Centers to improve security guard training; students learn about WMDs and how to identify suicide bombers; critics say high industry turn-over rates doom the project to failure; do malls really qualify as critical infrastructure?
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CREDANT wins contract to protect GSA laptops
Deal is third with a government agency in three months; company teams-up once again with Intelligent Decisions; CREDANT’s FIPS 140-2 encryption solution turns heads
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New York architects test two new bollard devices
Rogers Marvel tries to drum up NYSE interest in a turntable model for Broad Street; system rotates 90 degrees to permit passage of authorized vehicles; alternative Tiger Trap system already a big hit in Battery Park; unique construction supports pedestrian weight but collapses underneath trucks
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Research and Markets issues report on wireless industrial automation communications
Report finds no wireless protocol leader yet; ZigBee slightly favored; lengthy battery life and low latency among key features of any succesful technology
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DHS moves on chemical plant safety regulations
In a one-punch, DHS moves on rules governing chemical plants safety two weeks after formulaitng rules to governs the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals; Democrats will controll both houses of Congress next year, and they say both sets of rules are too weak, and will be strengthened
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NY/NJ Port Authority offers national port security recommendations
Suggestions include minimum mandatory cargo inspection standards, a federal port and cargo policy director, and a port security user fee to offset security costs
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Buffalo physicist announces new blast protection technology
New computer simulations that test blast-proof infrastructure without the expense of physical modelling and test explosions; interstitial grains control energy propagation through a tapered chain; buildings, tanks, and bulletproof vests could benefit from discovery
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Commerce Department cited for loose IT security practices
Inspector general says there is no evidence agency is complying with OMB security directives; more than 1000 laptops are missing
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U.S. water utility buys Magal's DreamBox solution
Security company Magal is gaining traction in the U.S. market; after a year-long marketing efforts, order begin to come in
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L-3 receives $35 million contract for Talon
The growth of the mobile work-force and Internet-based communication has increased the need for securing sensitive data and communications; L-3 offers a solution the government finds useful
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Dayton positions itself as a sensor center
Ohio’s Third Frontier Commission awards $28 million for the development of a sensor technology research center; business partners include Woolpert, General Dynamics, UES, YSI, and L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics
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RemoteReality receives $7.3 million in VC funding
Battelle Ventures and Chart Venture partners pick up the tab; company a DoD favorite for its 360-degree video analytics technology; USS Cole and USS Greenville incidents drive demand for on-board surveillance and monitoring
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The long view
Helping Strengthen America’s Critical Infrastructure
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
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.
Experts Discuss Geothermal Potential
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.