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Submission + - Smart battery tells you when it's about to explode (sciencemag.org)

Submitted by sciencehabit
sciencehabit writes: Material scientists have found a clever way to alert users of damaged batteries before any hazard occurs. A typical lithium-ion cell consists of a lithium oxide cathode and a graphite anode, separated by a thin, porous polymer sheet that allows ions to travel between the electrodes. When the cell is overcharged, microscopic chains of lithium, called “dendrites,” sprout from the anode and pierce through the polymer separator until they touch the cathode. An electrical current passing through the dendrites to the cathode can short-circuit the cell, which causes overheating and, in some cases, fire. Attempts to stop dendrite formation have met with limited success, so the researchers tried something different. They built a “smart” separator by sandwiching a 50-nanometer thin copper layer between two polymer sheets and connecting the copper layer to a third electrode for voltage measurement. When the dendrites reach the separator, the voltage between the anode and the copper layer drops to zero, alerting users that they should change the damaged battery while it is still operating safely—disaster averted.

Submission + - German Editor Admits Working for The CIA (cryptome.org)

Submitted by Nicola Hahn
Nicola Hahn writes: The former editor of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, one of Germany's larger papers has come forward to admit that he worked closely with the CIA. Udo Ulfkotte indicates, among other things, that U.S. intelligence is set on fomenting military conflict with Russia:

"I am very fearful of a new war in Europe, and I don't like to have this situation again, because war is never coming from itself, there is always people who push for war, and this is not only politicians, it is journalists too. ...We have betrayed our readers, just to push for war. ...I don't want this anymore; I’m fed up with this propaganda. We live in a banana republic, and not in a democratic country where we have press freedom"

Of course the CIA’s long-standing connections to the press are part of the public record. As are its attempts to sway public opinion. But this sort of infiltration and subversion aren’t limited to newspapers. Intelligence agencies have shown a talent for undermining everything from hi-tech products to entire power structures. Such clandestine machinations raise a question: are spies and their covert programs compatible with democracy? Paging Mr. Snowden...

Submission + - Second Ebola case in US. (kxan.com) 1

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Well, looks like the number does double every three weeks or so. A healthcare worker in Texas has apparently tested positive for the disease. (The Guardian is also carrying the story, http://www.theguardian.com/us-...) The explanation for how this happened is going to be interesting too. The nurse in Spain who got it is said to have failed to follow best practices for glove removal, and touched a part of the contaminated exterior of her protective equipment with her skin.

Was this something similar, or is it just possibly, maybe airborne? Since it's in body fluids including saliva in a contagious individual who may be sneezing, coughing, or just talking... (people spit when they talk whether or not anyone realizes it,) and moisture in breath comes from secretions inside the lungs, one wonders how it could NOT be airborne... but the guys in the white coats say not to worry, so I, obligingly, am not worried.

I have however, added to my calendar my predictions for infection rates. By November 1st, we'll have about 4 diagnosed cases... and about 2 dozen before Christmas. So glad we have top notch care here.

Submission + - Health care worker tests positive for Ebola at Texas hospital

Submitted by HughPickens.com
HughPickens.com writes: BBC reports that a Texas health care worker who treated US Ebola victim Thomas Duncan before his death has tested positive for the virus, officials say. "We knew a second case could be a reality, and we've been preparing for this possibility," said Dr David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services. It is not clear at which point the health worker, who has tested positive in a preliminary test, came into contact with Mr Duncan. The handling of the first person found to have Ebola in the United States has raised questions over whether the country is prepared for an outbreak. Nearly a dozen federal, state and local government agencies, as well as several private entities, were involved in responding to the case in Dallas. The current Ebola outbreak, concentrated in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, has resulted in more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases, and at least 4,033 deaths.

Submission + - Randomised Controlled Trials for Ebola Treatments are Unethical and Impractical (alphagalileo.org)

Submitted by Strangely Familiar
Strangely Familiar writes: A letter in the Lancet calls for alternatives to randomized trials for Ebola treatments:

"Leading health experts [1] today urge the deployment of alternative trial designs to fast-track the evaluation of new Ebola treatments. In a letter to The Lancet, 17 senior health professionals and medical ethicists, from Africa, Europe, and USA, argue that although randomised controlled trials (RCTs) provide robust evidence in most circumstances, the lack of effective treatment options for Ebola, high mortality with the current standard of care, and the paucity of effective health care systems in the affected regions means that alternative trial designs need to be considered."

Submission + - Former NSA director had thousands personally invested in obscure tech firms

Submitted by Presto Vivace
Presto Vivace writes: "No conflicts appear to exist" among Keith Alexander's investments, NSA said.

New financial disclosure documents released this month by the National Security Agency (NSA) show that Keith Alexander, who served as its director from August 2005 until March 2014, had thousands of dollars of investments during his tenure in a handful of technology firms.

Don't worry, the NSA assures us that there was no conflict of interest.

Submission + - Former NSA director had thousands personally invested in obscure tech firms (arstechnica.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: New financial disclosure documents released this month by the National Security Agency (NSA) show that Keith Alexander, who served as its director from August 2005 until March 2014, had thousands of dollars of investments during his tenure in a handful of technology firms.

Each year disclosed has a checked box next to this statement: "Reported financial interests or affiliations are unrelated to assigned or prospective duties, and no conflicts appear to exist."

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