Radiological threats

Raytheon pursues stand-off radiation sensor technology
Raytheon received a $2.9 million contract from DHS to develop a stand-off nuclear radiation system
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RSA uncovers IT secure fears stifling business innovation… DHS completes radiological/nuclear detection drill in southeast transportation corridor… Has pandemic complacency come home to roost?
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ESA's gamma-ray technology used to detect dirty bombs
The European Space Agency has licensed its gamma-ray detection technology to a U.K. company; the latter has signed a contract worth $222 million with DHS to next-generation radiation gamma-ray detection and identification system
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Expert: Fear of nuclear terrorism may be overblown
A RAND expert says the fear of al Qaeda obtaining a nuclear weapon has already allowed the organization to inflict nuclear terror, even though it is not entirely clear that the terrorists can get their hands or use such a weapon
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Iraqi military looks at unmanned air force… Iraqi brass confirm interest in F-16s, armed Helos… Lockheed Martin establishes Center for Cyber Security Innovation… Nuke detection is latest fallout from Georgia war
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DHS, NSF announce $3.1 million awards for radiological detection
DHS and NSF give awards to academic institutions to advance research in radiological and nuclear detection
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Breakthrough: Radioactive waste may no longer be dangerous to store
Aussie researchers have created a material which has the potential to filter and safely lock away radioactive ions from waste water; nanofibers which are millionths of a millimeter in size could permanently lock away radioactive cations by displacing the existing sodium ions in the fiber
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DSRL in £13 million Dounreay decommissioning contract
Britain’s Dounreay fast reactor was proclaimed as “the system of the next century”; this was in the 1960s; the last 15 years have seen the site develop into a nuclear reactor decommissioning project
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DoE’s networks open to cyberattacks… WiMax emulator debuts… DHS’s radiation program to exceed initial cost estimates…
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Russia to build IAEA-supervised nuclear fuel bank
The nuclear fueled bank would allow countries, including Iran, to develop civilian nuclear power without having to enrich their own uranium, thus allaying fears over nuclear weapons proliferation
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New nuclear watchdog created
Anti-proliferation activists create the World Institute for Nuclear Security; funded with private and government funds, it will be headquartered in Vienna — next to the IAEA; it aims to facilitate sharing information to improve security at the world’s nuclear sites
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NYC receives $29 million to detect and prevent nuclear, radiological attack
DHS awards New York City $29 million under the Securing the Cities initiative
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INL nuclear materials detection technology wins award
Idaho National Lab researchers develop long-range, nonintrusive nuclear materials detection technology; the researchers built a linear accelerator-based device that uses high-energy photons to induce fission and identify delayed neutron and gamma rays consistent with illicit nuclear materials
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U.S. gets a C grade in WMD report
A blue ribbon panel of former high security official says terrorism threat remains real, and that the U.S. government’s efforts to counter WMD threats leave much to be desired
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Yucca Mountain project clears another hurdle
The Yucca Mountain nuclear storage project moves forward, as NRC says it would conduct an in-depth review of the government plans
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