ExtremismOnly Playing: Extreme-Right Gamification Published 1 October 2021 Extremist ideas inspire violence in a few, but for the many, participation increasingly resembles a consequence-free game separate from reality. “As technologies develop further, either in the form of Facebook’s metaverse or other forms of mixed or augmented reality that blur the line between online and offline,

ARGUMENT: Social Media & Societal HarmNearing the Tipping Point Needed to Reform Facebook, Other Social Media? Published 1 October 2021 The recent series of five articles from the Wall Street Journal exposed Facebook’s complicity in spreading toxic content. Yet, social media platforms continue to enjoy free rein despite playing what many consider to be an

Border SecurityInnovative Air Domain Awareness Technology Published 1 October 2021 DHS S&T is evaluating an innovative air domain awareness technologies to help protect the airspace along our northern border with Canada. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is evaluating an innovative air domain awareness technologies to help protect the airspace along our northern

China WatchChina’s Belt and Road Initiative: Profits, Not Development By Alex Wooley Published 1 October 2021 A new study found that, during the pre-Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) era, China and the U.S. were overseas spending rivals. However, China is now outspending the U.S. and other major powers on a more than 2-to-1 basis. Beijing’s

Anthrax AttacksAnthrax Attacks: 20 Years On Published 1 October 2021 Twenty years ago this month the United States experienced the scary anthrax letter attacks, which targeted major media outlets and members of Congress. Twenty years ago this month the United States experienced the scary anthrax letter attacks, which targeted major media outlets and members of Congress.

BioweaponsCalifornia Biosecurity Bill Safeguards Bioeconomy and Public Health Published 1 October 2021 Biosecurity experts say that California has the opportunity to reduce the risk posed by synthetic smallpox — and other novel biological threats —while keeping California’s bioeconomy innovative and strong. Gregory Koblentz, director of the Biodefense Graduate Program at the Schar School of Policy and

BioweaponsBioweapons Research Is Banned By an International Treaty – but Nobody Is Checking for Violations By Gary Samore Published 1 October 2021 Scientists are making dramatic progress with techniques for “gene splicing” – modifying the genetic makeup of organisms. This work includes bioengineering pathogens for medical research, techniques that also can be used to create

ExtremismOnly Playing: Extreme-Right Gamification Published 1 October 2021 Extremist ideas inspire violence in a few, but for the many, participation increasingly resembles a consequence-free game separate from reality. “As technologies develop further, either in the form of Facebook’s metaverse or other forms of mixed or augmented reality that blur the line between online and offline,

ARGUMENT: Social Media & Societal HarmNearing the Tipping Point Needed to Reform Facebook, Other Social Media? Published 1 October 2021 The recent series of five articles from the Wall Street Journal exposed Facebook’s complicity in spreading toxic content. Yet, social media platforms continue to enjoy free rein despite playing what many consider to be an

DroughtsCurrent Southwest Drought Is a Preview of Things to Come Published 1 October 2021 Scientists found that the record-low precipitation that kicked off the unprecedented drought parching the U.S. Southwest since 2020 could have been a fluke—just the rare bad luck of natural variability. But the drought would not have reached its current punishing intensity