PolarizationThe Tipping Point for Legislative Polarization Published 7 December 2021 A predictive model of a polarized group, similar to the current U.S. Senate, demonstrates that when an outside threat – like war or a pandemic – fails to unite the group, the divide may be irreversible through democratic means. A predictive model of a polarized group,

EarthquakesGround Improvement Technique Ahead of Earthquakes Published 7 December 2021 Helping engineers better understand and predict the “liquefaction” hazard during earthquakes and more reliably mitigate it. Juan Carlos Tiznado (PhDCivEngr’20) is the lead author on a new paper in the Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering that helps engineers better understand and predict the “liquefaction” hazard during earthquakes and

Hazardous MaterialsCooking Material-Storage Containers to Assess Fire Safety Published 7 December 2021 Researchers have completed a series of tests on specially designed stainless-steel containers used by the Department of Energy for storage and transportation of hazardous materials. Even at 2000 degrees, the sealed, stainless-steel containers did not split open. A team at Sandia National Laboratories has completed

Our picksPolitics & Pandemic | Lockdowns & Child Soldiers | Flooded Dairies, and more Published 7 December 2021 ·  Pro-Trump Counties Now Have Far Higher COVID Death Rates. Misinformation Is to Blame ·  The Increasing Importance of Partisanship in Predicting COVID-19 Vaccination Status ·  Companies Linked to Russian Ransomware Hide in Plain Sight ·  Former FARC Leader Killed

China WatchCan Europe Compete with China’s Belt and Road Initiative? By Henry Ridgwell Published 3 December 2021 The European Union this week launched a $340 billion “Global Gateway” fund to boost global infrastructure, which analysts say is aimed at rivaling China’s Belt and Road Initiative. But can the EU’s project compete with Beijing’s billions? The European

PreparednessThe U.K. Government’s Preparedness for COVID-19: Risk-Management Lessons Published 3 December 2021 A new report from the U.K. National Audit Office (NAO) examines the government’s risk analysis, planning, and mitigation strategies prior to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report notes that the pandemic has exposed a vulnerability to whole-system emergencies – that is,

PreparednessPreventing and Responding to High-Consequence Biological Threats Published 3 December 2021 A new report offers actionable recommendations for the international community to bolster prevention and response capabilities for high-consequence biological events. A new NTI | bio report offers actionable recommendations for the international community to bolster prevention and response capabilities for high-consequence biological events. The report, “Strengthening Global

Grid Resilience Balance of Power—Building a Resilient Electric Grid Published 3 December 2021 Events such as blackouts and outages are increasing in frequency as the nation’s infrastructure ages and climate change leads to extreme weather events. Hotter, wetter summers and harsher winters require more reliance on heating and cooling utilities, placing higher stress on the

School ShootingSchool Shootings Are at a Record High This Year – but They Can Be Prevented By James Densley and Jillian Peterson Published 3 December 2021 Research has shown that school mass shooters tend to be current or former students of the school. They are almost always in crisis of some sort before their attack,

Our picksBe Afraid of the Next ‘Lab Leak’ | Snarled Chip Supply Chains | China Wants to Write the Tech Rules for 5G, and more Published 3 December 2021 ·  You Should Be Afraid of the Next ‘Lab Leak’ ·  Far Right Is Using Twitter’s New Rule Against Anti-Extremism Researchers ·  The Taliban Are Banned by Facebook.