Biometrics Shifting from Defensive to Offensive Uses in Iraq

America's recently-passed 2007 supplemental defense funding bill (#2) included $320 million for an unusual weapon: biometrics. Fingerprinting, iris scanning, certain approaches to automated facial recognition, DNA, and more are all part of biometrics, which seeks to identify humans based on unique physical characteristics.

The Future of the Environment

Engineering a Better Earth

PopSci’s plan for identifying the planet’s worst environmental problems—and solving them with science.

Snot for 'Bots

Synthetic mucus might help the robot nose smell trouble.


The robotic schnozz can sniff for bombs and air pollution, along with other simple chemicals, but it still can't tell a smushed banana from a sprig of peppermint. Now researchers at the University of Warwick in England have hit upon a way to dramatically improve a robot's sense of smell: synthetic snot.

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Autonomous Flying Ambulances Could Save Troops

When there’s no safe escape, call in the Mules: These unmanned aerial vehicles could save lives on the battlefield—and off.

U.S. troops are pinned down in a crowded city center. Several are wounded and need immediate evacuation. There are miles of labyrinthine roads and thousands of enemy gunmen between them and the nearest base. The threat from rocket-propelled grenades has grounded the big helicopters.

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The Risk Governance of Nanotechnology: Recommendations for Managing a Global Issue

Read the 6-7 July 2006 conference report: “The Risk Governance of Nanotechnology: Recommendations for Managing a Global Issue” (link to PDF) held at the Swiss Re Centre for Global Dialogue last summer.

This meeting is the highest profile meeting to include consideration of longer-term risks in nanotech.

Excerpt from the report (link to PDF) :

"Military offence applications are particularly concerning because, unlike nuclear arms, verification difficulties mean there is no clear point at which opponents reach stability in the process of escalation and proliferation. Existing arms treaties may not apply to nanotechnology-based weapons, and there are important intellectual property, commercial confidentiality, and national security issues involved in addressing this challenge…"

Defense Nanotechnology Research and Development Program

The potential role of nanotechnology for defense and military applications was assessed in unclassified format in a recent report issued by the Director, Defense Research and Engineering.

See "Defense Nanotechnology Research and Development Program," April 27, 2007

The Future of Tires