FAA Gives the OK for Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has officially announced its rules and regulations to drone registration in efforts to maintain aerial security. As Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or “drones” become increasingly popular for avid consumers and military personnel, the FAA revealed updated measures, effective December 21, 2015. For example, anyone in possession of a small UAS (the category weighing 0.55lb-55lb) is directed to register with the FAA UAS registry before they fly outdoors. Individuals who have already flown drones of this weight category must register by February 19, 2016. In a Bard College study, researchers categorized 921 recorded UAS encounters from 2013-2015 into: Sightings and Close Encounters. Sightings were defined as “a pilot… spotted a drone flying within or near the flight paths of manned aircraft though not posing an immediate threat…,” and Close Encounters were occurrences “where a manned aircraft came close enough to a drone that it met the (FAA’s) definition of a ‘near midair collision’ or close enough that there was a possible danger of collision…” The study concluded that 35.5% of the recorded cases were Close Encounters and 64.5% were Sightings. Furthermore, 90% of the recorded events showed the UAS went above 400 ft., the maximum height allotted to any UAS. Many industry officials are skeptical of the new FAA regulations, while FAA advisers assure that the actions being taken are simply to bolster national security. See: http://dronecenter.bard.edu/files/2015/12/12-11-Drone-Sightings-and-Close-Encounters.pdf.
As Nanotechnology Reaches Below Sea Level, Regulations Aren’t so Deep
One of the most highly sought after technologies is nanotechnology. The frequently evolving nature of nanotechnology innovation has heightened questions as to whether the regulations governing nanomaterials are sufficient in determining safety, while also fostering uninhibited field growth. In November of 2015, scientists at Rice University developed a nanosubmarine with a light-reactive motor modeled after a bacteria flagellum, as opposed to more traditional propellers (“Unimolecular Submersible Nanomachines. Synthesis, Actuation, and Monitoring” Garcia-Lopez, et al. Nano Lett 2015;15(12):8229–8239). This development demonstrates promising insight into unique research methods, new approaches to transferring medicine, and potential advancements in locating renewable energy sources. While the Obama Administration has continuously encouraged advancements in nanotechnology, the regulatory sphere has voiced safety concerns. In an April 2015 proposed rule that would be included in the Toxic Substances Control Act, the US Environmental Protection Agency has proposed reporting requirements that include one-time reporting for new and existing individual nanoscale materials before they are manufactured or processed. See: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPPT-2010-0572-0001
Cyber Readiness Index (CRI) 2.0
No country is cyber ready. It is a given that global economic growth is increasingly dependent upon the rapid adoption of information communication technology (ICT) and connecting society to the Internet. Indeed, each country’s digital agenda promises to stimulate economic growth, increase efficiency, improve service delivery and capacity, drive innovation and productivity gains, and promote good governance. Yet, the availability, integrity, and resilience of this core infrastructure are in harm’s way. The volume, scope, velocity, and sophistication of threats to our networked systems and infrastructures are real and growing. Data breaches, criminal activity, service disruptions, and property destruction are becoming commonplace and threaten the Internet economy. Until now, however, there has not been a comprehensive, comparative, experiential methodology to evaluate a country’s maturity and commitment to securing its national cyber infrastructure and services upon which its digital future and growth depend. The Cyber Readiness Index (CRI) 2.0 provides a blueprint to objectively assess a country’s cyber capacity and maturity. The CRI 2.0 was released by Melissa Hathaway and her team at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies in November 2015. The methodology builds off of the CRI 1.0 methodology developed by Hathaway in 2013. The CRI 2.0 evaluates 125 countries’ “cyber readiness” across seven essential elements: National Strategy, Incident Response, E-Crime and Law Enforcement, Information Sharing, Research and Development, Diplomacy and Trade, and finally Defense and Crisis Response. Hathaway brings over 20 years of cyber security national and international expertise to the CRI 2.0 team. Hathaway notes that “the CRI 1.0 was launched over two years ago and has influenced many countries around the world. We hope the CRI 2.0 has even broader impact.” See: https://www.potomacinstitute.org/images/CRIndex2.0.pdf
Scientists Discover Intelligence Genes
In a recent study, scientists believe they have taken encouraging steps toward mapping human intelligence systems in relation to genetic inheritance. The investigations focused on two groups of genes located in the brain that Johnson et al. believe may have some influence from one master control system. Specifically, scientists identified two networks of genes, called M1 and M3, which are involved in regulation of other genes. According to the findings, these regions “showed replicable enrichment for common genetic variants underlying healthy human cognitive abilities.” The study harnessed information from subjects’ cognitive abilities in memory, attention, processing speed and reasoning combined with genetic information submitted from people with autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, or intellectual disabilities and information from people with no similar diagnoses. Their computations revealed that the genes congruently responsible for altering the ability and intelligence of healthy people were the same genes that impaired cognitive ability and caused epilepsy when mutated in disabled patients. While there are no known cures for neurodevelopmental disorders, the new information from Johnson, et al. suggests a hopeful future in treating disorders and illnesses such as autism, epilepsy, and schizophrenia. See: http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nn.4205.html
Certain Neonicotinoids May Be Dangerous to Bees
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has performed studies revealing that three neonicotinoid pesticides: clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, may be harmful for bees when sprayed on plant leaves. Bees are essential for pollination and have a significant impact on agricultural yield, and protectingthespecies is therefore amajorconcern. While a two-year ban is currently in place, environmental groups are appealing to the European Union to extend this ban. The EFSA plans to reassess the risks posed by the three chemicals and will determine the extent of their impact on bees. See: http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/ web/2015/08/EU-Agency-Says-Neonicotinoids-Pose.html
Nuclear Waste Disposal Under Scrutiny
US nuclear waste managers are facing a challenging job when asked to dispose of radioactive waste as per government legislation. Various waste management groups are now urging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to change the limitations to US nuclear waste classifications by simplifying them and following an international model. The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements states that the confusion stems from unclear, inconsistent definitions of the existing nuclear waste classifications. The Council proposes that the US establish three classes of waste: exempt waste, low-level waste, and high- level waste. These classes would be based on chemical, physical, and radioactive properties, to ensure that risk to human health and the environment is minimized and that waste can be stored with the proper amount of containment. While these recommendations may take years to turn into legislation, one positive point to note is that the United States has used its experience in the nuclear field to simplify waste classifications for countries recently emerging with nuclear capabilities. See: http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i34/Nuclear-Waste-Long-History-Confusing.htmlHistory-Confusing.html
