Science & Technology News

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by GordMay

The FBI is remotely hacking hundreds of computers to protect them from Hafnium
In what’s believed to be an unprecedented move, the FBI is trying to protect hundreds of computers, infected by the ‘Hafnium’ hack, by hacking them itself, using the original hackers’ own tools.
A court in Houston has authorized [1] an FBI operation to “copy and remove” backdoors from hundreds of Microsoft Exchange email servers in the United States, months after hackers used four previously undiscovered vulnerabilities to attack thousands of networks.
The Justice Department announced the operation on Tuesday [2], which it described as “successful.”
The FBI says that thousands of systems were patched by their owners, before it began its remote Hafnium backdoor removal operation, and that it only “removed one early hacking group’s remaining web shells which could have been used to maintain and escalate persistent, unauthorized access to U.S. networks.”

[1] Court Order ➥ https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...der-re-hafnium

[2] DOJ Announcement ➥ https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr...tion-microsoft

Thanks for posting this one . Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

[Midnight Son]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Thanks for posting this one . Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

Yup, shudder, but knowing large IT departments. Capital SHUDDER!

[GordMay]

Alta., Ont., Sask. and N.B. sign agreement to explore small nuclear reactors [SMRs]

The provinces also released a feasibility report [1] prepared by Ontario Power Generation, Bruce Power, NB Power and SaskPower which gives a potential timeline for development and deployment of SMRs [Small Modular Reactors] and assesses their competitiveness with other non-emitting energy sources.

According to the feasibility study, Canada's first grid-scale SMR project of about 300 MW is expected to be in place at the Darlington nuclear site in Ontario by 2028, followed by up to four similar units in Saskatchewan with the first in service in 2032.
An advanced SMR design is also to be developed in New Brunswick resulting in demonstration units at the Point Lepreau, N.B., nuclear site by 2030. Meanwhile, a new class of "micro SMR" is being designed to replace diesel use in remote communities and mines — a 5-MW gas-cooled reactor project is proposed at the Chalk River nuclear site in Ontario and is expected to be in service by 2026.

Proponents argue that new applications, simplified designs and advanced technology give SMRs an enhanced level of safety, building on Canada's reputation as a safe and well-regulated leader in nuclear energy.

More than 100 environmental, anti-nuclear, community and other Canadian groups [led by CELA] signed a statement [2] in November declaring SMRs a "dirty, dangerous distraction" from tackling climate change. They argued the fight against global warming can't wait for the technology to be proven and deployed and warn SMRs will cost more than other low-carbon energy alternatives, won't create as many jobs and will result in new streams of dangerous nuclear waste.

[1a] “Small modular reactor feasibility report” ~ Executive Summary
➥ https://www.ontario.ca/page/small-mo...ibility-report

[1b] “Feasibility of Small Modular Reactor Development and Deployment in Canada” ~ Full Report
Download PDF ➥ https://www.opg.com/innovating-for-t...lear-reactors/

[2] “Statement on Small Modular Reactors” ~ by Andrew Pickles, Canadian Environmental Law Association [November 17, 2020]
➥ https://cela.ca/statement-on-small-modular-reactors/

[Midnight Son]

Gord:
CBC did a piece on this this morning, talking to the mayor of Pinawa, he and some of the companies at the old site, want to restart the research that was done there at AECL (Atomic Energy of Canada), on small slow-poke reactors, just before the old research reactor was dismantled.
I'd say go for it, AFTER you have your high and mid level, waste repository built, not one damned second before. We already have too many spent fuel strings in holding pools. I do not know if they are getting the French to reprocess them or not. But my money is on, NO.
Best wishes all.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Midnight Son

Gord:
CBC did a piece on this this morning, talking to the mayor of Pinawa, he and some of the companies at the old site, want to restart the research that was done there at AECL (Atomic Energy of Canada), on small slow-poke reactors, just before the old research reactor was dismantled.
I'd say go for it, AFTER you have your high and mid level, waste repository built, not one damned second before. We already have too many spent fuel strings in holding pools. I do not know if they are getting the French to reprocess them or not. But my money is on, NO.
Best wishes all.

Some of The smr's they are testing at chalk river actually use those spent fuel rods as their fuel . So it seems to be a win win .

[Midnight Son]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Some of The smr's they are testing at chalk river actually use those spent fuel rods as their fuel . So it seems to be a win win .

Almost, but not quite. Needed both for US and Canada. Waste repositories. Until that happens. The anti-nuke crowd, will have a field day with it. Not needed.
Fuel rods, reused, still need a final resting place.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Midnight Son

Almost, but not quite. Needed both for US and Canada. Waste repositories. Until that happens. The anti-nuke crowd, will have a field day with it. Not needed.
Fuel rods, reused, still need a final resting place.

Once the smr/mmr is done with it it has been rendered essential innert.
Did the research it was discussed about 4 or 5 months ago on this thread .

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Some of The smr's they are testing at chalk river actually use those spent fuel rods as their fuel . So it seems to be a win win .

Which?

Certainly not the "FCM" fuel, per below.

Global First Power’s proposed SMR [actually Micro Modular Reactor, MMR] design is a 5 MWe high-temperature gas reactor. Global First Power has begun the licencing process and an Environmental Assessment for a demonstration reactor at the Chalk River campus in presently underway.

“CNL & USNC Partner on SMR Fuel Research” ~ February 26, 2020
➥ CNL & USNC Partner on SMR Fuel Research

"Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated (FCM™) Fuel"
➥ https://usnc.com/fcm-fuel/

“An Update on the Development of FCM fuels for Micro-Modular Reactors (MMR)”
➥ https://snetp.eu/wp-content/uploads/...k-Davies-1.pdf

[GordMay]

Coronavirus variants: What you need to know
SARS-CoV-2 variants are complicated: each one is made up of a collection of mutations, all of which have the potential to change the virus in unexpected ways. A 'Nature' video [6 min.] explores what they might mean for the future of the pandemic.
➥

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8UEZ9cfgz4

[GordMay]

The Campaign Against the Climate: Debunking climate change denial

The shocking exposure of a million-dollar, 30-year denial campaign that undermined science and cast doubt on the dangers of climate change.

These days, one might hope that the world sees what is happening to the climate as a serious global crisis – but that is not always the case. One reason for this is a 30-year-long project by some in the oil industry, who have spent millions of dollars manipulating public opinion and perceptions of climate change.

"The Campaign Against The Climate", by Danish filmmaker Mads Ellesøe, unravels the elaborate cover-up by these climate change deniers and their funders, and tries to find the truth behind the climate change theory wars – especially in the United States and Europe. Whistle-blowers, academics, communications experts and historians expose those funding this denialism and uncover their dubious studies and think-tanks, which set out to prove that climate change is just a fad.

Mads Ellesøe tells the important story on how leading “experts” – some pretending to be scientists – worked as climate sceptics denying the climate changes in the public debate, and how these pundits were indirectly co-funded by major oil companies. This is an eye-opening documentary discovering an elaborate 30 years cover-up, digging into the heated discussions and denial of global warming.

The deception started in 1988 – but even today, some of the oil industry’s so-called “green” work belies the fact that 95 percent of its investments in new energy still go into fossil fuel extraction, further stoking global warming.

Watch Video [47 min]➥ https://www.aljazeera.com/program/fe...-change-denial

Or ➥ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13366054/

[GordMay]

Scientists Name 300-Million-Year-Old ‘Godzilla Shark' - "Dracopristis hoffmanorum"
With assistance from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (NMMNHS), a team of researchers from multiple institutions has named ‘Dracopristis hoffmanorum’ [or Hoffman's Dragon Shark], a 6.7-foot-long shark that lived 300 million years ago based on a complete skeleton found in the Manzano Mountains, about 30 miles southeast of Albuquerque.
More ➥ https://media.newmexicoculture.org/p...releaseID=1282

[GordMay]

More Evidence COVID-19 is Airborne

The authors of a new paper [1] that found increasingly concrete evidence that COVID-19 is "predominately" airborne, say that we need to be focusing on preventing infections in indoor settings, and rethinking how ventilation systems either help spread, or dissipate the virus.
The Lancet report [1] published Thursday, April 15, 2021, from epidemiologists and experts across both Canada, U.S. and the U.K. found an overwhelming amount of evidence that the disease was spread through aerosols.
The results of the report come as an important implication, for experts and governments, to consider more stringent public health control measures in indoor spaces.
New or refocused measures, to address the spread, include a focus on breathing fresh air, either through ventilation, or moving activities outside. Other measures could also include using more air cleaners, equipped with HEPA filters, or better respirators; particularly in high-risk, essential and healthcare workplaces; in order to prevent people from inhaling aerosols.
“Predominantly airborne” doesn’t mean masks and distancing are useless.
In fact, aerosol scientists were among the first to emphasize both. But correct theory of transmission gives both; better explanations of the epidemiological record, and better mitigations, over a broader range.


[1] “Ten scientific reasons in support of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2" ~ by Trisha Greenhalgh et al
➥ https://www.thelancet.com/journals/l...2/fulltext#%20

[SailOar]

Surigae explodes into strongest super typhoon on record before May 1, with 190 mph winds

• It is the strongest super typhoon ever observed in the western Pacific during the month of April and so early in the calendar year.
• In 36 hours, the storm’s peak wind increased from 90 mph to 190 mph, an astonishing rate of intensification.
• First Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclone in the official record to reach sub-900 millibar intensity [888] prior to May 1.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by SailOar

Surigae explodes into strongest super typhoon on record before May 1, with 190 mph winds

• It is the strongest super typhoon ever observed in the western Pacific during the month of April and so early in the calendar year.
• In 36 hours, the storm’s peak wind increased from 90 mph to 190 mph, an astonishing rate of intensification.
• First Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclone in the official record to reach sub-900 millibar intensity [888] prior to May 1.

Interesting however I personally feel it is a bit misleading . That is due to advances in storm measurement technology.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Interesting however I personally feel it is a bit misleading . That is due to advances in storm measurement technology.

Of course you do.


Typhoon "Surigae", known locally, in the Philippines as Typhoon "Bising", is currently a powerful tropical cyclone east of the Philippines which recently became the strongest Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclone to form before the month of May on record, and one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record

➥ https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news...es-intensifies

➥ https://reliefweb.int/report/philipp...ing-surigae-17

Phillipines ‘No Sail Policy’
Upon hoisting of the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal #1, the Coast Guard Station - Surigao del Norte immediately issued a ‘Notice to Mariners’ for all vessels/watercrafts plying in the area of responsibility of the station to temporarily suspend the respective voyages in relation to the published Severe Weather Bulletin Number 3 issued by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which is in accordance to the HPCG Memorandum Circular 02-13 entitled Guidelines of the Movement of Vessels during Heavy Weather dated 05 June 2013.
➥ https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1072658