PathogenCritical Shortcut to Detect, Identify Known and Emerging Pathogens Published 17 September 2021 Researchers have developed a sophisticated new tool which could help provide early warning of rare and unknown viruses in the environment and identify potentially deadly bacterial pathogens which cause sepsis, among other uses. Researchers at McMaster University have developed a sophisticated new tool

Vulcanic eruptionsThreat of Catastrophic Supervolcano Eruptions Ever-Present Published 17 September 2021 Supervolcanoes remain active and hazardous for thousands of years after a super-eruption, prompting the need for a rethink of how these potentially catastrophic events are predicted. Curtin University scientists are part of an international research team that studied an ancient supervolcano in Indonesia and found

Grid securityMetallic Balloon Causes Massive Blackout in Dresden, Germany Published 15 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

CybersecurityCybercriminals Use Pandemic to Attack Schools and Colleges By Nir Kshetri Published 15 September 2021 From Aug. 14 to Sept. 12, 2021, educational organizations were the target of over 5.8 million malware attacks, or 63% of all such attacks. Ransomware attacks alone impacted 1,681 U.S. schools, colleges and universities in 2020. Globally 44% of educational

CybersecurityU.S.: Russia of Stonewalling on Cybercrime By Jeff Seldin Published 15 September 2021 U.S. law enforcement and cyber officials say that U.S. warnings to Russian President Vladimir Putin over shielding cybercriminals holed up in Russia appear to have made little impact. U.S. warnings to Russian President Vladimir Putin over shielding cybercriminals holed up in Russia appear

DronesDetecting, Identifying Small Drones in Urban Environment Published 15 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

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

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)

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