Photos of an NSA “upgrade” factory show Cisco router getting implant

Credit: Ars Technica

You may have read previously on these pages of malware installed in USA manufactured comms equipment by the NSA. More at Ars Techninca:

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/05/photos-of-an-nsa-upgrade-factory-show-cisco-router-getting-implant/ / document National Security Agency NSA files released Glenn Greenwald’s book No Place to Hide Tailored Access Operations TAO unit NSA employees intercept servers routers network gear in transit shipped organizations targeted for surveillance install covert implant firmware delivered deliver Trojan horse systems NSA manager most productive operations pre-position access points hard target networks document June 2010 internal newsletter article Access and Target Development department S3261 includes photos NSA employees opening the shipping box Cisco router install installing beacon firmware load station specifically for the task /

New thermoset plastic is easily reduced to its source chemicals & recycled

Credit: John Timmer/Ars Technica

http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/05/new-thermoset-plastic-is-easily-reduced-to-its-source-chemicals-recycled/ / polymers polymer mer break down robust styrofoam container dissolve completely solvent chloroform thermoplastic food delivery containers soft higher temperatures heat melt properties plastics recyclable thermosetting thermosets durable solvents heat auto interior case electronic device robust recycle materials scientists thermoset polymer high temperatures solvent strong acid pH below 2 component molecules reused polymer recycle recycled /

Velogical shrinks the rim drive to "world's lightest" e-bike drive

http://www.gizmag.com/velological-worlds-lightest-e-bike-drive/31976/ / friction drive Rubbee lighter simpler transform bicycle ebike e-bike Velogical Velospeeder friction drive light lighter compact edrive e-drive weight weighs assist manual riding lightest smallest bicycle Cologne Velogical builds build rim dynamo power powered powering bike lights small sized down 600 watts of power torque 3.5 lb 1.6 kg lighter kit lithium-polymer battery spare swap dual Velospeeder motor seat stays traditional bicycle frame transfer power rear rim polyurethane rings toothless drive system smooth metal rim slip slippage dual swing axle drive keeps optimal contact efficient efficiently apply pressure power wheel braking wear weight bike manual pedaling easy to switch between manual and electric-assist riding prototype Spezialradmesse Velospeeder equipped test bike wear rim optimizing bicycle manufacturers installation bike shops retrofitting consumers video yet noise level /

Virtual reality for chickens is the future of farming, but is it also the future of humanity?

Credit: ExtremeTech

;)

http://www.secondlivestock.com

Well ... maybe ... but the item linked below provides many thought provoking ideas & links to interesting, related articles.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/182595-virtual-reality-for-chickens-is-the-future-of-farming-but-is-it-also-the-future-of-humanity / humans success domination planet self-centered self centered centred discover scientist scientific endeavor humanity well-being environment other animals problem hunger pestilence death impact botanical zoological friends Second Livestock fictional company Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets chickens livestock VR individual enclosures omnidirectional treadmill animals roam Second Life virtual world existence Virtual Free Range™ experience a full and healthy life 3D existence how we treat animals humane treatment Austin Stewart Iowa State University captive battery chickens quality of life happy free ranging VR headset treadmill 3D world depressed house cats caged zoo animals the great outdoors inhumanity virtual reality interface population density increases increase farmland /

West Antarctic ice sheet melt unstoppable (video)

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2014/05/the-west-antarctica-ice-sheet-melt-defending-the-drama.html

Unstable West Antarctic ice sheet

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/news/antarctic-ice-sheet-20140512/#.U3XZDNB_W2c

"Adapting to sea level rises as ice sheets melt ... expensive & hard"

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/may/13/west-antartica-ice-sheet-collapse-coastline-world / climate scientist scientists uncertainty released papers reached the same terrifying conclusion significant chunk West Antarctic Ice Sheet begun to disintegrate ice sheet’s peculiar topography below sea level begun become unstoppable observational evidence West Antarctic Ice Sheet irreversible retreat lead author Eric Rignot glaciologist NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL news conference point of no return melting team studied cause global sea levels century centuries major glaciers destabilize ice sheet sea level rise scary Stefan Rahmstorf professor of physics of the oceans Potsdam University tipping points climate system holy shit moment for global warming Mother Jones West Antarctic Ice Sheet WAIS Ohio State glaciologist John Mercer peculiarly unstable geologically recent past observations obscure journal history historian science Spencer Weart forecasts global sea-level rise sea level UN U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecasts a global sea-level rise /

Google Glass given to UC Irvine med students

Credit: Google/Slashgear

http://www.slashgear.com/google-glass-given-to-uc-irvine-med-students-14329146/ / Google's expansion Glass's availability general public University of California Irvine School of Medicine gifted gift wearable students Glass used med students course work courses hospital rotations rotation UC Irvine medical school wearable clinical skills anatomy classes hospital rotations med students routine looking up information recording broadcasting patient information university proprietary software HIPAA compliant transmit real patient interactions lecture hall /

NSA malware on servers & routers made in the USA

Credit: Chris Smith/Boy Genius Report

An interesting twist in the linked article, is that much of the recent concern about security of Huawei & ZTE communication equipment was that it would displace US manufactured equivalents, limiting US surveillance opportunities.

http://bgr.com/2014/05/13/nsa-malware-on-servers-and-routers/ / report The Guardian NSA National Security Agency allegedly tampering with US USA made electronic equipment server servers router routers network devices export exported foreign markets insert backdoor surveillance malware activated spy on networks agency implants backdoor surveillance tools repackages device devices factory seal sends them on The Guardian writes gains access to entire networks user users NSA leaked document SIGINT signal intelligence tradecraft is very hands-on literally documents Edward Snowden operations dating date June 2010 beacon implanted supply chain supply-chain interdiction called back NSA covert infrastructure provided us access exploit device survey the network U.S. government accused Chinese companies including Huawei ZTE newly revealed documents NSA inserting spying tools networking equipment U.S. market investigations House Intelligence Committee evidence Chinese government Huawei ZTE devices spy on other countries surveillance competition /