Biowarfare

DARPA Wants Smart Suits to Protect Against Biological Attacks

A new program seeks gear that can guarantee troops' survival amid multiple chemical and biological agents.

Weaponizing Biotech: How China's Military Is Preparing for a 'New Domain of Warfare'

Under Beijing's civil-military fusion strategy, the PLA is sponsoring research on gene editing, human performance enhancement, and more.

No, Lyme Disease Is Not an Escaped Military Bioweapon

The Lyme bacterium was living in the wild decades before the disease was even identified. And there's plenty more to disprove the conspiracy theories.

Should Cyber Arms Be Treated Like Bioweapons?

A recent paper suggests that the two are more closely related under international law than previously thought. But the analogy, while useful, is not exact.

Did the US Invent Lyme Disease in the 1960s? The House Aims to Find Out

A decades-old conspiracy theory says Cold War bioweapons research is sickening tens of thousands of Americans a year.

The US Army Is Making Synthetic Biology a Priority

New thermal cloaking, insect proof uniforms are on the horizon, if the U.S. can get out in front of China.

The Government’s Bioterror-Response Website May Be Leaking Sensitive Data

DHS inspectors and a whistleblower say the site, which would be used to coordinate federal responses to a bioterror attack, isn’t secure.

Scientists: Pentagon’s Plant-Virus Research Could Endanger World’s Food Supply

But DOD responds that new ways are needed to harden crops against coming natural and manmade threats.

DHS Aims to Replace Slow, Outdated Bioterror-Detection System

A new plan to draw on big data and distributed sensors will replace a 2003 system that can take up to 39 hours to detect a threat.

It’s Getting Too Easy to Create Dangerous Viruses

The upcoming national biodefense strategy should ensure that scientific journals don’t help terrorists learn how.

You're Safe-ish from Anthrax, For Now

Pentagon investigation into accidental anthrax shipments blames bad processes for killing spores.