Using sound to ‘see’ unexploded munitions on the seafloor

More than 400 underwater sites in the United States are potentially contaminated with unexploded ordnance (UXO) — weapons that did not explode upon deployment, which continue to pose a safety concern. Corrosion and growth make UXOs difficult to observe with Read More …

UK: Delivering homemade explosives manufacturing training

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) enabled the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to deliver training on homemade explosives (HME) manufacturing for the UK and other partner nations in early 2025, at Cranfield Ordnance Test and Evaluation Read More …

Using Drones and AI for a Mine-free World

Waseda University and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) signed a cooperation agreement in 2018. Since then, the two have been jointly researching and developing solutions for detecting landmines and unexploded ordnance. As part of this, Professor Hideyuki Sawada Read More …

Study opens the door for stronger evidence in bomb handling cases

Scientists have for the first time provided insight into how bomb residue transfers to the hands of suspects, which could lead to stronger evidence in court. The study, which was led by a team from King’s College London and published Read More …

China tests non-nuclear hydrogen bomb, science paper shows

The weapon generates a white-hot fireball that lasts 15 times longer than TNT’s fleeting flash Chinese researchers have successfully detonated a hydrogen-based explosive device in a controlled field test, triggering devastating chemical chain reactions without using any nuclear materials, according Read More …

Assessment of handheld Raman spectroscopy for forensic analysis of dark-colored bulk explosive fuel–oxidizer mixtures

The field identification of explosives is critical for crime response, requiring specialized protocols and often the support of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to ensure safety. Handheld Raman spectrometers are widely used for this purpose due to their portability, nondestructive Read More …

JTF-CS Commander is featured guest at CBRNE Symposium

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear experts from across the federal government, military, state and local entities, industry, and academia gathered in Washington, D.C., March 11-12, for the 13th Annual Joint Civil & DoD CBRN Symposium to Read More …

Stand-off hazardous materials identification based on near-infrared hyperspectral imaging combined with convolutional neural network

Near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging enables rapid, non-contact imaging of hazardous materials in a non-destructive manner, allowing for analysis based on spectral reflection information. However, using traditional methods, it is challenging to identify hazardous materials with less distinct spectral reflection features. Read More …

Cadets aim to make explosive ordnance operations safer

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A cadet brother team developed an electronic wire stabilization and cutting tool that could revolutionize explosive ordnance operations. Military members are put at risk during explosive ordnance operations as they disarm improvised explosive devices. Read More …

Leveraging new technology for a mine-free future

The devastating legacy of armed conflict – often marked by the indiscriminate use of landmines, improvised explosive devices and other explosive ordnance – poses a significant humanitarian challenge. Innovation in mine action With over 25 years of experience, UNOPS has Read More …

Wuhan lab samples hold no close relatives to virus behind COVID

After years of rumours that the virus that causes COVID-19 escaped from a laboratory in China, the virologist at the centre of the claims has presented data on dozens of new coronaviruses collected from bats in southern China. At a Read More …

An autonomous microbial sensor enables long-term detection of TNT explosive in natural soil

Engineered microbes can sense target chemicals and respond with programmed actions, using cell sensors to detect specific chemicals and genetic circuits to convert regulatory signals into observable outcomes1,2,3. Microbial sensors have the potential to carry out autonomous, long-term environmental monitoring Read More …

India: Digital University Kerala researchers develop mine-detection technology

A team of researchers from the Digital University Kerala (DUK) have come up with a technology to detect buried explosives with minimum human involvement. The technology can be put to use even in the most rugged and forested areas, thereby, Read More …

Laser vibration sensing technology can detect landmines faster than previous techniques

Enough landmines are buried underground worldwide to circle Earth twice at the equator, but the identification and removal of these explosives is costly and time-consuming. Vyacheslav Aranchuk, principal scientist in the National Center for Physical Acoustics, presented his research on Read More …

Kenya: Two university students innovate robot IED detector to help in war on terrorism

Two Technical University of Mombasa students have innovated a bomb detector robot that can be used in insecurity prone areas like Lamu. The innovation is such that the robot car, which can be remotely controlled, can be used as a Read More …

Landmine Detection Using Electromagnetic Time Reversal-Based Methods

In this paper, the researchers present a review and classification of the published works on the use of Electromagnetic Time Reversal (EMTR)-based methods to locate landmines. Different approaches for landmine localization using EMTR are investigated. Specifically, the classical time-domain EMTR, Read More …

National Robot Rodeo ropes in emerging EOD technologies

Military and civilian explosive ordnance disposal experts tried out the latest Explosive Ordnance Disposal technologies and robotics in the 2024 National Robot Rodeo competition, Aug. 26-30. The week-long event, managed by the United States Bomb Technician Association, brought EOD bomb Read More …

Why is Switzerland offering cash prizes to retrieve munitions from lakes?

The Swiss Federal Department of Defence Procurement (Armasuisse) is offering 50,000 Swiss francs ($57,800) for the three best ideas on how to retrieve some 12,000 tonnes of old munitions from the country’s lakes, including Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and Lake Read More …

University of Houston Researchers Unveil Groundbreaking Technique in X-Ray Imaging

Researchers at the University of Houston unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in X-ray imaging technology that could provide significant improvements in medical diagnostics, materials and industrial imaging, transportation security and other applications. In a paper featured on the cover of Optica, Read More …

Effects of Membrane Properties on the Odor Emanating from Training Aids for Explosive-Detective Canines

Many previous studies have shown that canines rely on the odor of volatile organic compounds that are emitted by explosive formulations. It is then especially important that canines be trained on authentic odors that are neither degraded nor contaminated. Research Read More …