Like the Lifeboat Foundation, The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists is an organization formed to address catastrophic technological risks. In catastrophic risk management, vision and foresight are essential. You take at technological, social, and political trends which are happening today – for example, steps towards mechanical chemistry, increasing transparency, or civil atomic programs – and brainstorm… Continue reading The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Displays Gaps in Nanotechnology Understanding
Saudi Arabia and Russia Ready to Cooperate on Nuclear Energy
From Yahoo News: RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter and a key U.S. ally, said on Wednesday that the kingdom does not see any obstacle to cooperating with Russia on developing a nuclear energy program. “There is no obstacle to cooperate with Russia on… nuclear energy,” Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal… Continue reading Saudi Arabia and Russia Ready to Cooperate on Nuclear Energy
Asteroid shield related: deflection mission and other proposals
A giant asteroid named Apophis has a one in 45,000 chance of hitting the Earth in 2036. If it did hit the earth it could destroy a city or a region. A slate of new proposals for addressing the asteroid menace was presented today at a recent meeting of the American Association for the Advancement… Continue reading Asteroid shield related: deflection mission and other proposals
Open Source Terraforming
Whether we like it or not, geoengineering — a process I’ve taken to calling “(re)terraforming the Earth” — is now on the table as a strategy for dealing with onrushing climate disaster. This isn’t because it’s a particularly good idea; as far as we presently know, the potential negative impacts of geoengineering projects seem to… Continue reading Open Source Terraforming
Inflatable Habitats for Polar and Space Colonists
From Physorg.com: Humanity has long since established a foothold in the Artic and Antarctic, but extensive colonization of these regions may soon become economically viable. If we can learn to build self-sufficient habitats in these extreme environments, similar technology could be used to live on the Moon or Mars. The average temperature of the Antarctic… Continue reading Inflatable Habitats for Polar and Space Colonists
Iran negotiator: Nuclear program ‘no threat to Israel’
From CNN: MUNICH, Germany (AP) — Iran’s nuclear program is not a threat to Israel and the country is prepared to settle all outstanding issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency within three weeks, its top nuclear negotiator said Sunday. Ali Larijani, speaking at a forum that gathered the world’s top security officials, said Iran… Continue reading Iran negotiator: Nuclear program ‘no threat to Israel’
U.S. to Attack Iran This Year?
From Guardian Unlimited: Target Iran: US Able to Strike in Spring Despite denials, Pentagon plans for possible attack on nuclear sites are well advanced US preparations for an air strike against Iran are at an advanced stage, in spite of repeated public denials by the Bush administration, according to informed sources in Washington. The present… Continue reading U.S. to Attack Iran This Year?
‘Doomsday’ vault design unveiled
The final design for a “doomsday” vault that will house seeds from all known varieties of food crops has been unveiled by the Norwegian government. “The Svalbard International Seed Vault will be built into a mountainside on a remote island near the North Pole. The vault aims to safeguard the world’s agriculture from future catastrophes,… Continue reading ‘Doomsday’ vault design unveiled
Nuclear terrorism risk seen growing
Two new reports on global security conclude with a growing risk for nuclear terrorism Reuters report today. The EastWest Institute and Chatham House, the two think-tanks behind the reports, cite that more states are pursuing their own nuclear ambitions and that the materials and engineering effort for a bomb “have all become commodities, more or… Continue reading Nuclear terrorism risk seen growing
US Missile Defense System Aces Test
From CNN: KEKAHA, Hawaii (CNN) — The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency shot down a dummy target missile over the southern Pacific Ocean during a test of the U.S. missile defense shield early Saturday, according to an agency spokeswoman. First, a dummy ballistic missile was fired from a U.S. mobile launch platform in the Pacific Ocean… Continue reading US Missile Defense System Aces Test