Energy securityCan Hydropower Survive in a Future of Extreme Weather? By Jeannette Cwienk Published 13 September 2021 Hydropower has long been seen as a reliable renewable energy source. But during drought and heavy rain, hydropower plants often come to a standstill. Will climate change spell the end for this clean energy alternative? For many years, the

DronesDetecting, Identifying Small Drones in Urban Environment Published 14 September 2021 DHS has awarded $750K to a Texas company to develop a detection and tracking sensor system that can identify nefarious small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in an urban environment. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program awarded $750,000 to Texas-based small business

Grid securityMetallic Balloon Causes Massive Blackout in Dresden, Germany Published 14 September 2021 More than 300,000 buildings and apartments in Dresden, Germany, were without electricity on Monday after a metal-coated party balloon caused a major short circuit at the city’s main power station. The police is investigation whether this was an accident or a deliberate

Killer robotsNew Armed Robot to Patrol Battlefield, Border Published 13 September 2021 An Israeli defense contractor on Monday unveiled a remote-controlled armed robot which can patrol battle zones, borders, track infiltrators, and open fire. The robot can also be programmed to make decisions on its own, without human intervention, about opening fire. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)

Radiation detectionRedesigning Radiation Monitors at U.S. Ports of Entry Published 13 September 2021 Every day at ports of entry around the country, hundreds of thousands of vehicles and containers cross into the country. Since 9/11, all incoming vehicles and containers at land crossings, rail crossings, mail facilities, and shipping terminals are scanned by Customs and

Our picksWhole-of-Society Approach to Counterterrorism | The Third Revolution in Warfare | Airline Cybersecurity, and more Published 13 September 2021 ·  Adopting a Whole-of-Society Approach to Terrorism and Counterterrorism ·  Cybersecurity Seen as Rising Risk for Airlines after 9/11 ·  CDC Finds Unvaccinated 11 Times More Likely to Die of COVID ·  FBI Releases Declassified Document on 9/11 Attacks

Energy securityCan Hydropower Survive in a Future of Extreme Weather? By Jeannette Cwienk Published 13 September 2021 Hydropower has long been seen as a reliable renewable energy source. But during drought and heavy rain, hydropower plants often come to a standstill. Will climate change spell the end for this clean energy alternative? For many years, the

Post-9/11 building codesHow the Terrifying Evacuations from the Twin Towers on 9/11 Helped Make Today’s Skyscrapers Safer By Erica Kuligowski Published 12 September 2021 One legacy of the 9/11 tragedy and the harrowing experience of those who successfully escaped the Twin Towers – the disaster was the most significant high-rise evacuation in modern times —

Iran’s nukesIAEA Monitors Allowed to Service Cameras at Sensitive Nuclear Sites Published 12 September 2021 An agreement has been reached between Iran and the IAEA to allow international inspectors to service surveillance cameras at Iran’s sensitive nuclear sites and to continue filming there. The agreement, announced Sunday, averts a diplomatic showdown this week. Iran has agreed

Water securityCalif.’s Central Valley: Increased Pumping During Drought in Worsens Groundwater Quality Published 12 September 2021 Researchers, examining thirty years of data from California’s Central Valley, found that intensive pumping of aquifers during drought can speed up deterioration of groundwater quality. Intensive pumping of aquifers during drought can speed up deterioration of groundwater quality, according to