OUR PICKSThe Bioeconomy Revolution | Iranian Cyber Group | Redefining Cyber Warfare, and more Published 28 January 2022 ·  What We Learned About Pegasus, the Smartphone Cracker ·  Private Israeli Spyware Used to Hack Cellphones of Journalists, Activists Worldwide ·  DHS Data Use Evolving and Improving, Officials Say ·  Biden Team Promises New Approach to Extremism, but Critics

DISASTERS & MENTAL HEALTHRepeated Exposure to Major Disasters Has Long-Term Mental Health Impacts Published 28 January 2022 New study found Houston residents who experienced two or more hazardous events in the past five years had a reduction in mental health scores. Repeated exposure to major disasters does not make people mentally stronger, a recent study from

UKRAINE CRISISNord Stream 2 Will Not Move Forward If Russia Invades Ukraine Published 27 January 2022 U.S. said it would work with Germany to ensure that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany does not begin operations if Russia invades Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the pipeline a “private sector project,” as

UKRAINE CRISISRussia Could Unleash Disruptive Cyberattacks Against the U.S. – but Efforts to Sow Confusion and Division Are More Likely By Justin Pelletier Published 27 January 2022 As tensions mount between Russia and the West over Ukraine, the threat of Russian cyberattacks against the U.S. increases. Cybersecurity experts are concerned that in the wake of

UKRAINE CRISISUkraine: Russian Hand Behind Spate of Bomb Scares at Schools Nationwide By Nina Bakhmach Published 26 January 2022 As tensions mount between Ukraine and Russia amid an alarming buildup of Russian forces near the border, Ukraine’s schoolchildren, their families, and their communities have already found themselves on the front line of what Kyiv’s intelligence

UKRAINE CRISISU.S. Developing Energy Contingency Plan for Europe in Case of Russia’s Cuts in Oil, Gas Exports By Patsy Widakuswara Published 26 January 2022 Moscow provides approximately 40 percent of Europe’s natural gas, and European energy stockpiles have been significantly lower in the past few months because of reduced Russian supplies. The Biden administration has

DISEASE FORECASRSCompetition and Collaboration: Understanding Interacting Epidemics Can Unlock Better Disease Forecasts By Andrey Lokhov Published 26 January 2022 A new algorithm increases scientists’ abilities to accurately model mutually dependent spreading processes, from virus outbreaks to disinformation on social media. Epidemiological models took center stage throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, providing important information about the spread of

AIRPORT SECURITYOpening Architecture to Make Air Travel Safer, Easier By J. C. Ross Published 26 January 2022 Researchers have developed an open architecture for airport screening systems, which will allow air travelers to experience faster and safer security checkpoints — no need to open bags or remove liquids or shoes. Air travelers may see faster, safer

WILDFIRESNew Federal Wildfire Plan Is Ambitious – but the Forest Service Needs More Money and People to Fight the Growing Risks By Ryan E. Tompkins and Susan Kocher Published 26 January 2022 As foresters who have been working on wildfire and forest restoration issues in the Sierra Nevada for over a quarter of a century,

NUCLEAR WASTEEnsuring Safe Nuclear Waste Disposal Published 26 January 2022 Disposal concepts call for the waste to be isolated a third of a mile belowground for safe storage, enclosed within engineered barrier systems and surrounded by subsurface rock. But there’s still the chance radionuclides might leak out if these systems lose their protective properties as