HOMELAND SECURITY ZONE

CLARITY SOUGHT ON ELECTRONICS SEARCHES

Nabila Mango, a therapist and a U.S. citizen who has lived in the country since 1965, had just flown in from Jordan last December when, she said, she was detained at customs and her cellphone was taken from her purse. Her daughter, waiting outside San Francisco International Airport, tried repeat...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/06/AR2008020604763.html?wpisrc=newsletter

CELL PHONE SENSOR NETWORK

Purdue physics professor Ephraim Fischbach (right) and nuclear engineer Jere Jenkins review radiation-tracking data. The next weapon in the war on terror may already be hanging from your belt. Purdue University researchers are developing a system that would use cell phones to detect and track radiation from "dirty bombs" and nuclear weapons. The idea is to blanket the nation with millions of phones - as well as laptops and PDAs - equipped with sensors able to detect even light residues of radioactive material. The system could be trained to ignore known radiation sources, such as hospitals, and discern those that pose potential threats.

Because cell phones already contain global positioning locators, the network would serve as a tracking system. "It's the ubiquitous nature of cell phones and other portable electronic devices that gives this system its power," said the professor.

http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20080206A2

NEW DECONTAMINATION SYSTEMS KILLS ANTRAX RAPIDLY WITHOUT LINGERING EFFECTS

Researchers have developed prototypes of a rapid, non-disruptive and less expensive method to decontaminate bioterrorism hazards. Using flat panels that produce X-rays and ultraviolet-C light, the researchers can kill anthrax spores, even hidden ones, in two to three hours without any lingering effects. ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080129125415.htm

SECURING THE CITIES NO EASY TASK

Developing System for Detecting 'Dirty Bombs' Hits Snags, Criticism http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/02/AR2008020202220.html?wpisrc=newsletter

NATURAL DISASTER ZONE

CHINESE SATELLITE WILL MONITOR DISASTERS

"China will expand the use of its Cbers-2B satellite to gather more information on land, forests and farmland to help itself and more countries to deal with natural disasters," reports the Xinhua News Agency. "The high-definition Earth-observing satellite with a designed lifespan of two years, was first designed to gather resources data and send images to China, Brazil and other countries, for use in agricultural production, environmental protection, city planning and land resources." It was launched September 19 and became fully operational January 24.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/25/content_7493532.htm

ACCURATE PREDICTIONS OF TSUNAMI RISKS

Researchers evaluated all known potential tsunami-generating sources in the Indian Ocean basin, and then calculated the impact of the waves they can generate. The geographical distribution of risk is evaluated on a basin-wide scale. ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080128113331.htm

WHY DO EARTHQUAKES STOP

Why do some earthquakes terminate along a fault, while others jump or step-over a gap to another fault? The underlying structure of a fault determines whether an earthquake rupture will jump from one fault to another, magnifying its size and potential devastation. Understanding why some earthquakes terminate along a fault, while others jump or step-over a gap to another fault, is essential to forecasting the seismic hazard of complex fault systems, such as the San Andreas Fault.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080205171753.htm

CYBERZONE

FORD TRUCKS GET WIRED

It seeks to maintain its market lead with in-dash computers, printers, tracking tools Ford Motor Co. will soon offer an in-dash computer with high-speed Internet access and a battery-powered inkjet printer on its F-150 pickups and commercial vans. Ford's Work Solutions package also includes a...

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/02/06/BUKNUSIML.DTL

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL SITE GETS A MAKE-OVER

The National Geographic Channel is launching an ad-supported Web site dedicated to broadband video that will be organized by genre, such as "Animals & Nature," "Exploration & Adventure" and "History & Events." The Web site averages about 1 million unique viewers each month and, according to this article, NGC executives are looking to add four new video channels a year to the online offering.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6528332.html

SUSPICIOUS NEW ZEALAND SPOUSES TURN TO SPYWARE

Nasty computer spyware isn't only used by hackers to steal your credit card details - suspicious spouses have adopted it as a way of monitoring and controlling their partners' every online

move. - http://www.stuff.co.nz/4386827a28.html

SCIENCE ZONE

WITH MINI IN-VIVO ROBOTS, ANYONE CAN DO SURGERY

Scientists have designed a way to allow individuals with non-medical backgrounds to perform minimally invasive surgery using a millimeter-sized camera robot attached to a tether.

Unlike expensive room-sized surgical robots, mini in-vivo robots are inexpensive and mobile enough to support emergency surgeries almost anywhere, from the battlefield to outer space, using telementoring by surgeons via video conferencing.

http://www.physorg.com/news121430323.html

ENJOY CANDY WITHOUT THE CAVITIES AND KILL TOOTH DECAY BACTERIA

What Willy Wonka did for chocolate, UCLA microbiologist Wenyuan Shi is doing for lollipops. Because of Shi, thousands of orange-flavored lollipops are rolling out of a factory in Grand Rapids, Mich., into the hands of people eager to lick them for one reason only. Shi and his lab team at the School of Dentistry have managed to make candy that's actually good for your teeth. The orange-flavored, sugar-free lollipop they devised is infused with a natural ingredient found in licorice that kills the primary bacterium causing tooth decay, Streptococcus mutans. ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204144715.htm

ENERGY ZONE

BIO-CRUDE TURNS CHEAP WASTE INTO VALUABLE FUEL

CSIRO and Monash University have developed a chemical process that turns green waste into a stable bio-crude oil usable for producing high-value chemicals and biofuels, including both gasoline and diesel replacement fuels. The process uses low-value waste such as forest thinnings, crop residues, waste paper and garden waste, significant amounts of which are currently dumped in landfill or burned.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204094459.htm

MICROCHIP COULD CHARGE CELL PHONES FOR 10 TIMES LONGER USE

Researchers at MIT and Texas Instruments have unveiled a new chip design for portable electronics that can be up to 10 times more energy-efficient than present technology. The design could lead to cell phones, implantable medical devices and sensors that last far longer when running from a battery.. In some applications, such as implantable medical devices, the goal is to make the power requirements so low that they could be powered exclusively by the body's own heat or movement.

...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204102750.htm

ENVIRONMENT ZONE

UN: CLIMATE CHANGE MAY COST $20 TRILLION

Global warming could cost the world up to $20 trillion over two decades for cleaner energy sources and do the most harm to people who can least afford to adapt, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warns in a new report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080130/ap_on_sc/un_global_warming;_ylt=ApF3g4IgC0eTg61nnhlYZRQPLBIF

ASIA PACIFIC ZONE

PACNET TO LAY U.S.-JAPAN UNDERSEA COMMUNICATIONS CABLE

Undersea cable network operator Pacnet Ltd. plans to install a new line linking the U.S. and Japan to meet growing communications demand between the two countries. The project will cost $3US-4 million and is slated to be completed in 2009. This will be the first time the company has laid its own undersea cable between the two countries. Up until now it has secured existing cables through such arrangements as leases.

NO LINK

GREAT FIREWALL OF CHINA FACES ONLINE REBELS

The Chinese government's censorship of Web sites with no discernible political content has fostered a backlash.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/world/asia/04china.html?th&emc=th

BEST-SELLING KEITAI SERIALS

A good AFP story last week covers the popularity of novels serialized and downloadable on cell phones. AFP says that the majority of Japanese high schoolers with cell phones spend at least 2 hours a day on the phone, and just 26 minutes a day reading books. The top-selling novel, with 1.95m copies sold, has been "Koizora," or "Love Sky." The tale is an autobiography of a first-year high school student who gets involved in drugs, sex, rape, and love. The home page of the novel's book publisher features titles from other writers as well. The company says it now carries around one million titles from amateur authors.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h8jXoP6NgbJRbIShObywhafiQI4Q

COMPUTER GAMES BANNED FROM VIETNAMESE GOV'T OFFICES

Communist Vietnam has ordered state officials to stop playing computer games at work and drinking alcohol at lunch, officials said Friday. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung issued an instruction Thursday calling on state officials to make more e...

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/181445computer-games-banned-from-vietnamese-government-offices.html

WIRELESS ZONE

MOBILE PHONE USERS SET TO SURPASS NONUSERS, U.N. SAYS

The number of mobile phone users will overtake the number of nonusers this year for the first time, according to the U.N. telecoms agency. Ownership rates in developing countries are rising fastest, with Brazil, Russia,...

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/02/07/BU73UT8C3.DTL

U.S. SPENT $208.4 BILLION ON WIRELESS IN 2007

Americans spent $208.4 billion on wireless communications technology in 2007, according to Grant Seiffert, president of Telecommunications Industry (TIA).

http://www.wirelessweek.com/US-208B-Wireless-2007.aspx

NEW ELECTRONICS PROMISE WIRELESS AT WARP SPEED

Phiar Corporation, a company that builds RF detectors and receivers, is using metal-insulator components with nanoscale thicknesses instead of solid-state semiconductor electronics to enhance the performance and cut the costs of wireless networks by introducing a simpler, less expensive manufacturing process.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=metal-insulator-electronics-wireless

FUJITSU LAUNCHES GLOBAL WiMAX BUSINESS

The company introduces three base stations under thenew BroadOne brand. -

http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W0RT0106B363A02BE2BE434758E830

SITE CITES

GIVING LIP: WHY WE KISS

Researchers are revealing hidden complexities behind the simple act of kissing, which relays powerful messages to your brain, body and partner

http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe2615767c61077a761073&ls=fdfb15737467027b72147874&m=ff3310707762&l=fef61c7471640d&s=fe2615717c670174701272&jb=ffcf14&t=

GETTING LIP: HOW THE MEDIA MESSES WITH YOU MIND

Statements made in the media can surreptitiously plant distortions in the minds of millions. Learning to recognize two commonly used fallacies can help you separate fact from fiction

http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe2315767c61077a761076&ls=fdfb15737467027b72147874&m=ff3310707762&l=fef61c7471640d&s=fe2615717c670174701272&jb=ffcf14&t=