ENERGY SECURITYDeclining Water Reserves in California May Cut Hydropower Use in Half This Summer Published 17 June 2022 As summer approaches, it’s clear that the heavy rains which pummeled California in late 2021 did little to shore up the state’s water reserves, and analysts are warning that the state’s hydroelectric supplies — a cheap source

AIThe Struggle Over AI Surveillance: From Digitalization to Dystopia? Published 17 June 2022 “From cameras that identify the faces of passersby to algorithms that keep tabs on public sentiment online, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools are opening new frontiers in state surveillance around the world,” states a new report. One experts says that just as with

WATER SECURITYCritical Global Water Questions Published 17 June 2022 Recent intense heatwaves in India and widespread U.S. droughts have highlighted the need for a global approach to tackling chronic water shortages. The problem is that most governments are not equipped to deal with these challenges of water scarcity, sanitation and climate dynamics. New research has now

DAM EMERGENCIESPreparing Communities for Dam-Related Emergencies Published 16 June 2022 There are more than 90,000 dams registered in the U.S. National Inventory of Dams across the country. But we rarely hear about them until the worst happens: one of them fails. Extreme weather events and the aging dam infrastructure are making dam-related emergency action plans

GUNSWhat Can the ATF Do About Converted Machine Guns? By Alain Stephens and Champe Barton Published 16 June 2022 Auto sears have become increasingly popular among criminals, and have been tied to dozens of shootings by extremists, mass shooters, and drug traffickers. Lawmakers are clamoring for action on auto sears, and history leaves clues about

ELECTION SECURITYMan Pleads Guilty to Threatening Election Official Published 16 June 2022 A Nebraska man pleaded guilty on Thursday to making multiple threatening posts on an Instagram page associated with an election official. The case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force, announced in June 2021, to lead the department’s efforts to

CYBERSECURITY“Hacking” Solutions for Pressing Cybersecurity Challenges Published 16 June 2022 When people think about the game capture the flag, memories of gym class or family trips likely come to mind. Researchers are participating in a slightly different version of this childhood favorite, where teams face off against opponents across the world to tackle real-world cybersecurity issues. 

DOMESTIC TERRORISMTop DOJ Official: Easy Access to Powerful Gus Linked to Domestic Terror Attacks By Jeff Seldin Published 16 June 2022 “We have to be clear about this as a nation,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen told an audience on Wednesday, “[t]he ability of violent extremists to acquire military-grade weapons in this country contributes significantly

CHEMICAL DETECTIONAssessing the Risks of Toxic or Flammable Clouds Published 16 June 2022 The Chemical Security Analysis Center was established by the Department of Homeland Security to identify and assess chemical threats and vulnerabilities in the United States and develop the best responses to potential chemical hazards. Battelle, a scientific nonprofit in Columbus, Ohio, has awarded

GRID PROTECTIONCybersecurity Tools to Protect Solar, Wind Power on the Grid Published 16 June 2022 Solar panels and wind turbines are projected to produce 44% of America’s electricity by 2050, but they present cybersecurity challenges. They have sensors, controllers, actuators or inverters which are directly or indirectly connected to the internet using insecure connectivity to