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☆ America’s military has the edge in space. China and Russia are in a counterspace race to disrupt it
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

Direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles are fired from Earth to take out a satellite target in space. Since then, China is believed by analysts to have conducted multiple, nondestructive missile tests that could advance its ability to target satellites. Illustration by CNNThat’s because the US has done extensive non-offensive testing of technologies to approach and rendezvous with satellites, including close approaches of its own military satellites and several Russian and Chinese military satellites, SWF says. Chance Saltzman explained why the US felt it needed to be able to counter other countries’ space capabilities. Its tenets may be more relevant now than ever – but potentially under greater threat amid a new focus on military and space.

Persons: –, Russia’s, ”, Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Zang Jihui, Chance Saltzman, ” Saltzman, Juliana Suess, Kamala Harris, Etienne Laurent, SpaceX’s, Tong Zhao, ” Zhao, doesn’t, RUSI’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Russian, CNN, Getty, Sputnik, Center for Security, Strategy, Technology, Observer Research, Foundation, China, US Space Force, Liberation Army, PLA, Space Force, Washington, CNN That’s, Space, China’s PLA, US Space Command, Vandenberg Space Force, Bloomberg, Union of Concerned, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Modern Defense Technology ”, United Nations Security, US Locations: Hong Kong, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, Europe, United States, China, Moscow, North Korea, Iran, Beijing, AFP, Soviet, Soviet Union, America, New Delhi, India, CNN China, Washington, Japan, Guam, France, Australia, Israel, Gaza, London, California, Honolulu, Hawaii, powerlines

☆ Wellness influencers fueled pandemic misinformation. Now they have another big conspiracy in their sights
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

As interest in the pandemic waned, experts say some wellness influencers have latched on to climate change to galvanize followers. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty ImagesCécile Simmons, a trained yoga teacher, was surprised when many of the wellness accounts she followed started posting about climate change. Some wellness influencers are exposing young audiences to a slew of climate misinformation. Climate misinformation is having “a profound impact” both on people’s beliefs and on the normalization of fringe perspectives, Caulfield said. It’s particularly worrying as it allows climate misinformation to reach new audiences, experts say, including young people that might otherwise be supportive of climate change action.

Persons: Instagram, influencer @truth_crunchy_mama, “, ” They’re, influencer @drmercola, Patrick T, Fallon, Cécile Simmons, ”, Simmons, Joseph Mercola, it’s, Stephanie Alice Baker, Halbert L, Dunn, Baker, Derek Beres, Marc, André Argentino, ” Beres, Callum Hood, Hood, they’re, Tim Caulfield, Spencer Platt, ” CCDH’s Hood, Caulfield, Mariah Wellman, ” Wellman, ” Caulfield, —, It’s, ” Simmons Organizations: CNN, Getty, Institute for Strategic, Global Wellness Institute, City University, Wellness, Center, University of Alberta, University of Illinois, Meta Locations: Hawaii, Lahaina , Hawaii, AFP, globalists, Chicago

The credible data that exists on crimes motivated by conspiracy theories shows a disturbing increase. Many of those charged said they had bought into Trump’s conspiracy theories about a stolen election. “Lies, lies lies: They're lying to you over and over and over again,” said Steve Girard, a Pennsylvania man who has protested the incarceration of Jan. 6 defendants. While they may have taken on a bigger role in our politics, surveys show that belief in conspiracy theories hasn't changed much over the years, according to Joe Uscinski, a University of Miami professor and an expert on the history of conspiracy theories. Russia has amplified numerous anti-U.S. conspiracy theories, including ones claiming the U.S. runs secret germ warfare labs and created HIV as a bioweapon, as well as conspiracy theories accusing Ukraine of being a Nazi state.

Persons: ”, Nash, Melissa Sell, Sell, Elon Musk, There's, Evan Hansen, Wired.com, Musk, It’s, ” Hansen, Donald Trump, Trump, Mark Milley, Milley, Laws, Vince Lynch, Lynch, Danielle Citron, Sandy, —, Alex Jones, Sandy Hook, Hillary Clinton, chemtrails, “, hospitalizations, Robert Palmer, they're, Steve Girard, Jan, hasn't, Joe Uscinski, ” Uscinski, “ Jan, Tom Fishman Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S ., United, Big Tech, Meta, Facebook, titans, Army, University of Maryland’s National Consortium, University of Virginia School of Law, Sandy Hook Elementary, CNN, FBI, Capitol, The Associated Press, Trump, University of Miami, Twitter, United States, U.S, . Locations: Maui, Chile, America, United States, Pennsylvania, U.S, Israel, Newtown , Connecticut, Florida, California, Wisconsin, Washington, Russia, China, Iran, Ukraine, Nazi

☆ Britain says it developed and test-fired a futuristic laser cannon that can shoot drones out of the sky
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The UK has tested a new laser weapon for shooting down drones. AdvertisementBritain has tested a powerful new laser weapon that can take out swarms of drones, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. The DragonFire laser weapon fired at several aerial targets for the first time at a range in the Hebrides in Scotland, according to a press release. The DragonFire laser weapon system. Russia also claims to have used laser weapons to take out Ukrainian drones, though their effectiveness is unclear.

Persons: —, Houthi, Paul Hollinshead, they've Organizations: Ministry of Defense, Service, Britain, Ministry of Defence, MoD, The Times, MoD's Defence Science, Technology Laboratory, UK's Ministry of Defence, Times Locations: Hebrides, Scotland, Red, Russia

☆ Why the U.S. military is investing billions in directed-energy weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Brad Howard | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy the U.S. military is investing billions in directed-energy weaponsDirected energy weapons such as lasers and high powered microwaves may soon be used to defend against drones and rockets on the battlefield. These futuristic sounding weapons are part of a new wave of devices produced from billions of dollars in research and development from the Defense Department. But how close is the U.S. military to using these weapons in the field?

Organizations: U.S, Defense Department Locations: U.S

☆ Senators urge US to take steps to boost battery production, citing China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Workers are seen at the production line of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EV) at a factory in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 28, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer/ File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Two influential Democratic U.S. senators urged the Energy Department to take steps to boost U.S. battery manufacturing and next-generation battery research, citing China's dominance and export controls, according to a letter seen by Reuters. China dominates the global EV battery supply chain including production of graphite - the single largest component. The letter wants a committee briefing by Dec. 1 "on ongoing research and development of next-generation battery technologies." China accounts for 70% of the global production of lithium-ion batteries, the letter said, noting of five critical minerals required for most lithium-ion batteries, China "controls between 60-100% of the mining or refining for these minerals."

Persons: Stringer, Mark Warner, Joe Manchin, China's, Jennifer Granholm, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Democratic U.S, Energy Department, Reuters, Senate, Energy, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Thomson Locations: Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China, United States, Asia, U.S

☆ US military hints it could use laser and microwave weapons to fend off attacks on its bases near Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Pentagon official hinted that "directed energy" weapons could be available to protect US bases. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Pentagon has hinted that it could use laser and microwave weapons to fend off attacks on its bases near Israel. Directed energy weapons are defined as those that use high amounts of concentrated energy, usually laser or microwave, that are directed at targets to destroy or damage them. A UK Dragonfire laser directed energy weapon system is seen on day one of the DSEI arms fair at ExCel on September 10, 2019 in London, England. "The US military has tested a variety of DEW (directed energy weapon) prototypes since 2014, primarily for counter-drone missions," it said.

Persons: —, Pat Ryder, Ryder, Leon Neal Organizations: Pentagon, Service, of Defense Press, ExCel, US Navy, NBC News Locations: Israel, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, London, England

☆ Fact Check-Blue lightning video not proof of lasers used during Tropical Storm Idalia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Satellite imagery from Aug. 27 showing blue lighting strikes inside Tropical Storm Idalia has been shared on social media alongside false claims that they are evidence of laser attacks or Direct Energy Weapons (DEW). We are being terrorized on the daily.”The video does show lightning during Idalia and not man-made lasers or weapons. Examples of previous satellite imagery by CIRA depicting lighting artificially colored in blue amid tropical storms are viewable (here), (here), (here). Reuters previously addressed false claims of lasers or direct energy weapons, or DEWs, causing extreme weather events (here), (here) and explosions (here). The blue lighting strikes viewable in the satellite imagery are a result of false color used by weather mapping organizations for visibility purposes.

Persons: Idalia, “, Matt Rogers, CIRA, Rogers, Read Organizations: Energy Weapons, Reuters, Outreach, Communications, Cooperative Institute for Research, Colorado State University, Environmental Locations: Florida, Bend

☆ Russia and Ukraine are fighting the kind of drone war the US military has been worrying about, and it's scrambling to prepare for a future that's already here
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Christopher Woody | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

The scale of the drone war in Ukraine is one of the most striking features of the conflict. "ISIS figured out how to arm their drones and attack us either with 'kamikaze' explosive-laden drones or drones that dropped" modified munitions, Townsend said. Soldiers with the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment train on an Avenger air-defense system in in July. In 2018, the Army reactivated the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, returning a short-range-air-defense capability to Europe. AdvertisementAdvertisement"The war is showing how much [drones are] here and are affecting the war every day.

Persons: Ukraine isn't, Mara Karlin, wasn't, Karlin, that's, John Moore, Stephen Townsend, Townsend, Frank McKenzie, MAHMOUD TAHA, I've, Syria —, Richard Clarke, Clarke, Tom Karako, " McKenzie, McKenzie, Maj, Sean Gainey, Gainey, FADEL SENNA, Douglas Bush, Bush, they've, Col, Michael Parent, Narciso Contreras, Parent Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Defense Writers, US Marine, US Army, US Africa Command, ISIS, Getty, Army, US Special, Command, Aspen Security Conference, Missile Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Patriot, —, US Air Force, Congressional Research Service, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Spc, Yesenia, Asymmetric Warfare Group, Battalion, Stryker, Washington DC, Marine Corps, US Army Yuma, US, Anadolu Agency, Pacific . The Defense Department Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Mosul, Syria, Homs, Europe, Washington, Russian, Kyiv, Russia, Lviv Oblast, China, Pacific

☆ Fact Check-Green lights in Hawaii sky came from satellite, predate 2023 fires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A night-time video showing streaks of green light in the sky over Hawaii predates the August 2023 wildfires in the U.S. state by several months. The lights were filmed by Japan’s Subaru-Asahi Star Camera in January 2023 and emanate from a Chinese weather satellite launched in April 2022. The 2023 wildfires in Maui, killed over a 100, making it the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century, Reuters reported (here). Green lights captured over the night sky in Hawaii in January 2023 predate the August 2023 wildfires. Read more about our work to fact-check social media posts (here).

Persons: Japan’s, DEWs, Read Organizations: Japan’s Subaru, Asahi, “, Office, Reuters, Subaru, of Japan, YouTube, Asahi Shimbun Locations: Hawaii, U.S, Maui, Kea, NAOJ, Dqui

☆ Fact Check-The Simpsons did not show ‘directed energy weapon’ causing fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An episode of the animated series “The Simpsons” depicted fires caused by sunlight reflecting off a chrome statue, not a “directed energy weapon,” as claimed in social media posts linking such weapons to August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii. Posts on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter (here), and Facebook (here), (here) link the clip to the natural disaster on Hawaii’s island of Maui with captions such as “The Simpsons predicting Direct Energy Weapons!?. The term “Directed energy weapons” (DEW) refers to technology that harnesses concentrated electromagnetic energy fired at the speed of light, according to an April 2023 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) (here) (here), (here). The full episode contains no references to directed energy weapons. Reuters Fact Check has previously addressed false claims of directed energy weapon use in the 2023 wildfires (here).

Persons: Monty Burns ’, “ Springfield, Read Organizations: Facebook, U.S, Government, Office, U.S . Department of Defense, GAO, YouTube, Reuters Locations: Hawaii, Maui, “

☆ Fact Check-Photo of beam striking Hawaiian church is altered
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An image of the hall of Waiola Church in Lahaina, Hawaii in flames amid wildfires has been edited to add a laser beam. Posts on social media feature a burning structure with an orange beam hitting it on its roof ((here), (here), (here). The altered image suggests that the wildfires were caused by Direct Energy Weapons (DEW). The posts on social media flipped the image and digitally added what looks like a laser beam. An image showing a church in Lahaina, Hawaii on fire has been digitally altered to include a laser beam striking the building.

Persons: Read Organizations: Reuters, Direct Energy Weapons, Naval Research, Maui News Locations: Lahaina , Hawaii, Hawaii, United States, Lahaina

☆ Fact Check-Louisiana video of electrical explosions not ‘direct energy attack’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A video from 2018 of electrical explosions in Louisiana is being shared online as footage showing a “direct energy attack”. Direct energy weapons (DEW) are an emerging technology that uses concentrated electromagnetic energy to combat enemy forces and assets. People have claimed online that June 2023 wildfires in Canada, and August fires in Hawaii were caused by direct energy weapons. In another instance, social media users claimed a 2018 video of electrical explosions in Louisiana was evidence of DEWs in use in Hawaii (see Facebook users here), (here) and users on X, formerly known as Twitter, (here) (here). The video shows electrical explosions, not a “direct energy attack”, in Louisiana in 2018.

Persons: Kenner, Read Organizations: U.S . Department of Defense, Reuters, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Louisiana, Canada, Hawaii, Kenner , Louisiana, Local, West, Big

☆ 10 ways Tasers and stun guns can damage your body and brain, from twisted testicles to temporary memory loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Kelly Burch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Tasers, AKA stun guns, cause your muscles to seize up, which can make them sore for days after. Police and law enforcement have been using Tasers, known generally as stun guns, since 1974 as a safer alternative to guns. Put another way, all Tasers are stun guns, but not all stun guns are Tasers. Stun guns make your muscles seize up like a Charley horseA police officer's painful reaction to being tasered during a training course on stun guns. Rarely, stun guns can severely harm kidney functionVery rarely, stun guns can cause a serious condition called rhabdomyolysis, AKA rhabdo, which can be fatal.

☆ Only 3 countries have managed to build 5th-generation fighters, but nearly a dozen are already working on 6th-gen jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

(The recently unveiled B-21 bomber is billed as the world's first sixth-gen aircraft, but little is known about its capabilities.) Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, and Boeing are believed to be competing to build the jets, and all have released illustrations of sixth-gen aircraft. FCAS/SCAFA full-scale model of the Future Combat Air System at the Paris Air Show in June 2019. An illustration of Japan's next-generation fighter aircraft concept. While China is making heavy investment in military aviation, Russia's ability to develop next-generation jets may be shrinking.

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