3:14 PM
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/06/rare-virus-poses-new-threat-to-troops/
Iranian scientists have reportedly tested an advanced nuclear warhead design, a "breathtaking" breakthrough that puts their nuclear weapon development far beyond what had been thought...one nuclear weapons expert said that instead of doing step 1 in development, Iran has already jumped to step 4 or 5. There are apparently NO civilian application for this type of advanced testing:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/05/iran-tested-nuclear-warhead-design
The Navy has expanded the number of jobs that its ~100 trained dolphins, sea lions, and seals can carry out. However, underwater robots are getting cheaper and more capable and will replace the sea mammals program eventually:
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htcbtsp/articles/20091106.aspx
The Pentagon spent more than $26.8 billion to develop and build the MRAPs (Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle) and another $5.4 billion to produce M-ATVs (smaller versions of the MRAPs that are better suited for Afghanistan's dirt tracks and narrow mountain roads). Unfortunately, Taliban-led insurgents have already found ways to use IEDs to cripple and even destroy the armored vehicles. Soldiers are also not happy that the armored vehicles can be ambushed on mountain roads where there is no room for the vehicles to turn around:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/afghanistan/story/78443.html
The US reportedly vetoed an attack on the ship that was allegedly carrying 500 tons of weapons to Hezbollah. That is fortunate because it appears that the crew on the ship did not realize that they were carrying weapons--the sealed containers were supposedly "parts for bulldozers":
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1126397.html
Scientists at this Symposium described the progress and challenges of solar energy research. One interesting project is the development of an "artificial leaf" that mimics photosynthesis when converting sunlight and water into a liquid fuel like methanol for cars and trucks:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-11/acs-cds110509.php
TVs on the market today can go directly online to stream movies, cutting out PPV or video-on-demand services, and it appears that soon internet capabilities will be standard on TVs:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/technology/personaltech/05basics.html?ref=technology
Obese man was too heavy for X-ray machines designed for humans and was told to go to the zoo for an X-ray. He refused...and died 13 days later:
http://www.smh.com.au/world/obese-man-dies-after-refusing-xray-at-zoo-report-20091104-hvli.html