Items by David Hambling
Wired: Top Stories
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Scientist Looks to Turn Ball Lightning Into a Weapon
Posted: February 20th, 2009, 8:04am EST by David Hambling
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Fringe scientist Dr. Paul Koloc believes he can turn ball lightning into a missile killer. First step: Figure out what the stuff is, exactly. -
Stopping Trucks the Superhero Way
Posted: February 10th, 2009, 8:30am EST by David Hambling
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Stopping a car or truck is fairly easy. Stopping a vehicle without doing any damage is a lot harder. The military has devised answers that seem to have come straight out of a Marvel comic book. -
Software Swarm to Spot Rockets Before They're Fired
Posted: February 4th, 2009, 3:30pm EST by David Hambling
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The military has all sorts of ways to pick out a gunman, after he's taken a shot. But Darpa is developing a software system to spot a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) before it's fired. -
Beyond Size 10: A Fighting Footwear Arsenal
Posted: December 18th, 2008, 12:30am EST by David Hambling
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The shoe-hurling incident earlier this week, in which President Bush narrowly dodged a couple of Size 10 projectiles, has become a full-fledged phenomenon. So it's about time Danger Room took a closer look at footwear-based weaponry.
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Beyond Size 10: A Fighting Footwear Arsenal
Posted: December 18th, 2008, 12:30am EST by David Hambling
Tags: [edit]
The shoe-hurling incident earlier this week, in which President Bush narrowly dodged a couple of Size 10 projectiles, has become a full-fledged phenomenon. So it's about time Danger Room took a closer look at footwear-based weaponry.
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Secret 'Directed Energy' Tech Protecting the President?
Posted: November 14th, 2008, 4:45pm EST by David Hambling
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The Secret Service has more than earpiece radios and armored limos to help it protect the President. Documents from a recent court case indicate that it also has advanced directed energy devices which are highly classified.
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Army Orders Pain Ray Trucks; New Report Shows 'Potential for Death'
Posted: October 10th, 2008, 11:17am EDT by David Hambling
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After years of testing, the Active Denial System -- the pain ray which drives off rioters with a microwave-like beam -- could finally have its day. The Army is buying five of the truck-mounted systems for $25 million. But the energy weapon may face new hurdles, before it's shipped off to the battlefield; a new report details how the supposedly non-lethal blaster could be turned into a flesh-frying killer.
Wired.com -
Air Force's New 'Killer Zombie' Drone
Posted: October 4th, 2008, 11:20am EDT by David Hambling
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Armed Predator and Reaper drones have become the primary weapons in the fight against Pakistani militants. But they can be pricey, which is why the Air Force is working on a cheaper option: killer zombies.
Wired.com -
Chinese Say They're Building 'Impossible' Space Drive
Posted: September 24th, 2008, 10:29am EDT by David Hambling
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Chinese researchers claim they've confirmed the theory behind an "impossible" space drive, and are proceeding to build a demonstration version. If they're right, it could open up new possibilities for space exploration – and give the Chinese a decisive military advantage in space.
Wired.com -
Islamabad Bomb's Secret Ingredient
Posted: September 22nd, 2008, 9:06am EDT by David Hambling
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The terrorist attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan caused massive destruction and loss of life. One of the reasons why: The bomb contained a lethal accelerant, found in some of the world's most powerful munitions.
Wired.com -
Game Controllers Driving Drones, Nukes
Posted: July 20th, 2008, 5:30pm EDT by David Hambling
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War is getting more like a videogame, as hardware and software from the gaming industry is increasingly being adopted for military use. The latest sign of this appeared at the Farnborough air show this week, where arms-maker Raytheon showed off its new Universal Control System for robotic aicraft.
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Camera Shy? Pentagon Builds a Portable Lens-Destroying Laser
Posted: January 10th, 2008, 2:30pm EST by David Hambling
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The "laser crazer" will be able to ruin enemy sniper scopes, night-vision gear and even binoculars at long range, using short bursts of high-energy laser pulses.