56880953
submission
coondoggie writes:
There has been much discussion about how NASA and others could protect Earth from the threat of asteroids catastrophically striking the planet. This month NASA issued a report on the conclusions reached by a group of experts on the best ways to find, track and possibly deflect asteroids headed for Earth. Here we take a look at some of the key findings as well as other asteroid detection projects.
56614155
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coondoggie writes:
Using lasers to communicate quickly through the long distances of space has generally been the purview of science fiction. But researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are out to change that notion with a prototype array that can read more information — and allow much higher data rates than conventional systems — than usual from single particles of light. Lasers can transmit only very low light levels across vast distances, so signals need to contain as much information as possible, NASA said.
56571491
submission
coondoggie writes:
Here's a good idea: The FBI today said it launched a targeted 60 day program that will offer up to a $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of anyone who intentionally aims a laser at an aircraft. The FBI said the laser pointing scourge continues to grow at an alarming rate. Since the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration began tracking laser strikes in 2005, there has been ridiculous 1,000% increase in the number of laser pointing/aircraft incidents. Last year, 3,960 laser strikes against aircraft were reported-an average of almost 11 incidents per day.
56537231
submission
coondoggie writes:
The scientists at DARPA say the current methods of searching the Internet for all manner of information just won't cut it in the future. Today the agency announced a program that would aim to totally revamp Internet search and "revolutionize the discovery, organization and presentation of search results."Specifically, the goal of DARPA's Memex program is to develop software that will enable domain-specific indexing of public web content and domain-specific search capabilities. According to the agency the technologies developed in the program will also provide the mechanisms for content discovery, information extraction, information retrieval, user collaboration, and other areas needed to address distributed aggregation, analysis, and presentation of web content.
56448187
submission
coondoggie writes:
You don't hear about this often enough — the FBI today said the last in a group of seven men was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to steal copper from two dozen First Energy Corp. and or Cleveland Public Power substations in Northeast Ohio. The FBI said that the group of seven men took part in 25 copper thefts and five attempted thefts between January and May 2013. Court documents also list 53 instances where at least some of the defendants sold stolen copper to area scrap yards between January and April 2013. The defendants collectively sold the stolen copper for more than $15,000. They have collectively been ordered to pay $242,626 to First Energy Corp. for the cost of repairs to the substations.
56379043
submission
coondoggie writes:
NASA today said it was looking into developing two new Centennial Challenge competitions that would let the public design, build and deliver small satellites known as Cubesats capable of operations and experiments near the moon and beyond. The first challenge will focus on finding innovative ways to allow deep space communications with small spacecraft, while the second focuses on primary propulsion for small spacecraft.
56375257
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coondoggie writes:
In the face of the recent Target and Neiman Marcus data breaches the US Secret Service says new laws could help bolster the country's cybersecurity shield.
Testifying before a Congressional hearing entitled: "Protecting Consumer Information: Can Data Breaches Be Prevented?" US Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division Deputy Special Agent in Charge William Noonan said: "While there is no single solution to prevent data breaches of U.S. customer information, legislative action could help to improve the Nation's cybersecurity, reduce regulatory costs on U.S. companies, and strengthen law enforcement's ability to conduct effective investigations."
56303987
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coondoggie writes:
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory say they have created "hairy" electronic materials that grow like Chia pets. The Argonne researchers said they are interested in the tiny fibers for use in technologies like batteries, photovoltaic cells or sensors.
56193367
submission
coondoggie writes:
As they have for the past few years the US Customs department teamed with the National Football League to cut into the lucrative counterfeit sports gear market. In what the feds called “Operation Team Player,” special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and officers from Customs and Border Protection worked with the National Football League (NFL) and other sports leagues along with law enforcement agencies to identify illegal shipments imported into the U.S., as well as stores and vendors selling counterfeit trademarked items.
56149407
submission
coondoggie writes:
The possibility of Wikipedia being taken over by attackers was just foiled by quick action on the part of Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that operates Wikipedia, with the help of Check Point, the security firm that discovered the critical security hole in its code. “It is conceivable that someone who discovered this vulnerability could have executed code that may have made it possible to access user data,” says Wikimedia Foundation spokesman Jay Walsh.
56138751
submission
coondoggie writes:
Pretty much if you are flying into New Jersey for the Super Bowl just bring as little as possible on the airplane with you (or into the stadium for that matter). But if you just can't help yourself and feel the need to bring along a little something extra, the Transportation Security Administration this week issued a little helpful advice on what NOT to bring on the airplane.
56104773
submission
coondoggie writes:
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection service said today it had grounded its nine remaining unmanned aircraft after one of them was forced to ditch in the Pacific Ocean. The unmanned aircraft had an unknown mechanical failure while on patrol off the southern California coast. The crew determined that it wouldn't make it back to Sierra Vista, Arizona, "and put the aircraft down in the water,"
56086029
submission
coondoggie writes:
Each year Transportation Security Administration airport screeners have the truly thankless task of securely checking the traveling public’s carry-ons and luggage. (This year tragically the job was dangerous as well, as one officer, Gerardo Hernandez, was killed in the line of duty at Los Angeles International Airport). But in that luggage they sure find some wacky and scary things according to the Transportation Security Administration Blog. Here’s a look at some of the most interesting things people tried to travel with in 2013.
55937103
submission
coondoggie writes:
Call it a clock's clock. Researchers say they have developed the world's most precise and accurate clock — besting the World's current timekeeping record holder — the National Institute of Standards and Technology Quantum clock — by 50%.
55889403
submission
coondoggie writes:
Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory say they have tested technology that could eventually help them monitor and control space traffic.The driving idea behind the project is to help keep satellites and other spacecraft from colliding with each other or other debris in Low Earth Orbit.
