Science & Tech

Putin Seeks to Plug Gaps in Russia's State-Driven Tech Efforts

His Wednesday speech acknowledged difficulties Russian researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs face, particularly in the realm of finance.

Ideas

Most-Read of 2020 (So Far)

We're three months into the next year already, if you go by the fiscal calendar. Here's the most-clicked posts on our site since Oct. 1.

Science & Tech

NSA, Army Seek Quantum Computers Less Prone to Error

Even ordinary computers flip a bit here and there, but their quantum cousins have a lot more ways to go wrong.

Science & Tech

NIST Creates Biometric Databases to Spur ID Research

The data collections include fingerprints, facial photographs and iris scans — and they're meant to be just the start.

Science & Tech

This Little-Used Area of the Electromagnetic Spectrum Might Be the Future of Battlefield Communications

If commercial 5G millimeter-wave gear can be hardened against jamming, the U.S. Army thinks it might gain a real battlefield edge.

Science & Tech

China Has Increasing Sway in US Science, JASON Report Says

Beijing is using better jobs at home, aggressive intelligence agencies, and a greater financial reach to influence American institutions.

Science & Tech

US Army’s High-Powered Skull Study May Yield Better Helmets

Protecting soldiers' brains is the ultimate aim of a joint effort by the Army Research Laboratory, Argonne National Lab, and Northwestern University.

Science & Tech

House Defense Bill Would Mandate Carbon Capture Program for the Military

A technology that many hope will prevent the worst effects of climate change could also produce fuel or other defense products.

Threats

Pentagon Test-Fires 2nd INF-Banned Missile

The Air Force ran Thursday's launch from a static pad, which followed the Navy's August test from a mobile launcher.

Science & Tech

Special Operations Command Made a Mind-Reading Kit For Elite Troops

The experimental tool is among several that aim to combine sensors and AI to give U.S. operators a new edge.

Science & Tech

Federal Bill Would Constrain Some Police Use of Facial-Recognition Tools

A 72-hour limit on tracking individuals would become the first, and somewhat arbitrary, federal line in the sand.

Science & Tech

Amazon’s JEDI Protest Centers on Trump

In July, the president made highly unusual remarks about the competition for the giant cloud-computing contract.

Business

US Army Hires AI Firm to Predict When Aircraft, Vehicles & Weapons Will Break

Following the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, the service hopes a small company can organize the data from decades-old maintenance logs.

Science & Tech

Special Operations Command Is Experimenting With Bullets That Shoot Through Water

The supercavitating round might allow Navy SEALs to open fire before they break the surface.

Science & Tech

Nanotechnology Is Shaping the Hypersonics Race

New materials to deflect massive amounts of surface heat don’t come from nature.

Science & Tech

How Lockheed Martin Is Trying To Link Everything on the Battlefield

Experiment by experiment, the company is weaving aircraft, ground vehicles, satellites, and the rest into a network that will someday give commanders unprecedented decision-support options.

Science & Tech

Amazon Will Protest JEDI Cloud Contract; Cites ‘Political Influence’

In July, Trump said he was "looking into" the $10 billion contract, which went to Microsoft last month.