The Homeland Defense (HD) Digest is a curated bi-weekly news summary from worldwide sources, showing headlines of innovative, emerging technologies in HDIAC's eight focus areas.

HDIAC ANNOUNCEMENTS:

In Case You Missed It – The newest HDIAC State of the Art Report (SOAR), titled “Alternative Energy: An Enabler of Military Capability,” is now available - HDIAC.org

This SOAR reviews the current state of a selection of novel, non-traditional, and/or emerging sources and technologies for harvesting, generating, and reusing energy. It offers synopses of new programs, summaries of significant technological breakthroughs and technology applications, highlights of outstanding developments, and impacts to the Department of Defense.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Welcome to the 2020 President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition! - CISA.gov

Established in 2019, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition is a national cyber event aiming to identify, challenge, and reward the best cybersecurity talent in the federal workforce. Now in its second year, the President's Cup consists of individual and team challenges focusing on areas across the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework (NICE Framework).

FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization for Convalescent Plasma as Potential Promising COVID-19 Treatment, Another Achievement in Administration’s Fight Against Pandemic - FDA.gov

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for investigational convalescent plasma for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients as part of the agency's ongoing efforts to fight COVID-19. Based on scientific evidence available, the FDA concluded, as outlined in its decision memorandum, this product may be effective in treating COVID-19 and that the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks of the product.

Parachute and Life Support Shop: ‘The Last Line in Safety Defense’ - AFMC.AF.mil

Protecting the defenders. That is mission for the men and women working in the Parachute and Life Support Shop at Robins Air Force Base.

Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis Infections Linked to Peaches - CDC.gov

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) external icon are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to peaches.

Army Researchers Dream New Self-Healing Material Will Lead to ‘Terminator’ Technology - Military.com

U.S. Army researchers have teamed with Texas A&M University to create a new polymer material that can shape-shift and autonomously heal itself as part of a research effort to improve future unmanned air and robotic vehicles.

Department of Energy Announces the First Five Consortium - Energy.gov

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office (AITO) announced the creation of the First Five Consortium (First Five). Co-Chaired with Microsoft Corporation, First Five was formed in response to the January 2020 White House Executive Forum focused on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response. This cross-cut of industry, government, non-profit, and academia has pledged their in-kind support to develop solutions that will improve the impact mitigation of natural disasters in the United States.

New Landmine Detection Method to Reduce False Alarm Rates - Army.mil

Landmines pose a serious threat in conflict areas, yet modern detection systems struggle to discriminate between explosives and clutter. A project funded by the Army developed a new method for landmine identification that will greatly reduce false alarm rates.

Interagency Issues Advisory on Use of Technology to Detect and Mitigate Unmanned Aircraft Systems - DHS.gov

Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an advisory guidance document to help non-federal public and private entities better understand the federal laws and regulations that may apply to the use of capabilities to detect and mitigate threats posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations.

Department of Energy Announces $20 Million to Advance Perovskite Solar Technologies - Energy.gov

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $20 million in funding to advance perovskite solar photovoltaic technologies. Perovskites are a family of materials with a specific crystal structure, named after the mineral with that structure. When used to create solar cells, they have shown potential for high performance and low production costs. To be competitive in the marketplace, perovskite's long-term durability must be tested and verified, the aim of this funding opportunity announcement through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).

Hear Her: CDC Campaign Highlights Warning Signs of Pregnancy-Related Deaths - CDC.gov

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is launching Hear Her, a national campaign that brings attention to pregnancy-related deaths and provides education and encouragement to pregnant and postpartum women (within one year of delivery).

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