CybersecurityHackers-for-Hire Drive Evolution of Threat Landscape Published 1 November 2021 Cybersecurity threats are on the rise. The new edition of the ENISA Threat Landscape (ETL) highlights the surge in cybercriminality motivated by monetization using ransomware or cryptojacking. Supply-chains attacks also rank highly among prime threats because of the significant potential they have in inducing catastrophic

2021 State of ClimateExtreme Events and Major Impacts Published 1 November 2021 In a sobering new report, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says that record atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and associated accumulated heat have propelled the planet into uncharted territory, with far-reaching repercussions for current and future generations Record atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and associated accumulated

Truth DecayThe Three Horsemen of Cyber Risks: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Fake News Published 1 November 2021 The risks associated with misleading information can have a profoundly negative impact – from eroding trust in democracy to threatening public health by spreading anti-science conspiracies. But how do organizations prepare against such threats? A new study aims to

Climate & SecurityDHS Strategic Framework for Addressing Climate Change Published 1 November 2021 Two weeks ago, the Biden administration released four reports, by DHS, the intelligence community, the Department of Defense, and the National Security Council, on how climate change-driven developments — among them:  worsening conflict within and between nations; increased dislocation and migration as

TornadosUsing Overpasses as Shelter from Tornado Is Unsafe Published 1 November 2021 Contrary to popular belief, waiting out a tornado under an overpass is not safe. Experts say that doing so could actually increase the risk of death, in part because the wind from a tornado is thought to accelerate as it flows under the

PandemicsModeling Improvements Promise Increased Accuracy of Epidemic Forecasting Published 1 November 2021 Accurate forecasting of epidemic scenarios is critical to implementing effective public health intervention policies. Much progress has been made in predicting the general magnitude and timing of epidemics, but there is still room for improvement in forecasting peak times. Accurate forecasting of epidemic scenarios

Planetary SecurityWaste of Space: A Proactive Approach to Removing Space Junk Published 1 November 2021 There are more than 27,000 pieces of space debris bigger than the size of a softball currently orbiting Earth, and they are traveling at speeds of up to 17,500 mph, fast enough for a small chunk to damage a satellite

Border SecurityOfficial Reject Claims of Terrorists Infiltrating U.S. From Mexico By Jeff Seldin Published 29 October 2021 DHS Counterterrorism Coordinator said that fears the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan could reinvigorate terror groups like al-Qaida and Islamic State, and lead to a surge of attempted infiltrations along the southern U.S. border, have not been realized. “It

BiosecurityImproving Safety in Labs Dealing with Lethal Viruses Published 29 October 2021 Biosafety-Level (BSL) 4 laboratories undertake hazardous research into lethal viruses to improve our understanding of diseases such as Ebola and Lassa Fever and to better prepare the world against new and emerging diseases. But these activities pose significant risks. Surges in the number

VaccinesLess than a Third of U.S. Parents Eager to Vaccinate Young Kids Against COVID-19 By Stephanie Soucheray Published 29 October 2021 The latest poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that only 27 percent of parents said they were eager to get their young children vaccinated against COVID-19. Thirty percent said they would definitely not