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(OPEN):
SINCE "9/11", AMERICAN-CITIZENS AND -SOLDIERS HAVE REGULARLY FACED THE
THREAT OF EXPLOSIVES. HOWEVER, PROGRESS IS BEING MADE TO REDUCE
THAT THREAT: THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S
PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL LABORATORY HAS FOCUSED
SCIENTIFIC-TALENT AND -RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY ON ENHANCING
EXPLOSIVES-DETECTION. DOCTOR DAVID ATKINSON IS THE
LABORATORY'S CHIEF-SCIENTIST FOR EXPLOSIVES-DETECTION...
(ATKINSON):
"WHILE EXPLOSIVE-BASED THREATS ARE EVER-ADAPTING,
THERE'S NO SILVER-BULLET SOLUTION. BUT YET, BREAKTHROUGHS IN
SCIENCE ARE BEING MADE. FOR INSTANCE, SCIENTISTS ARE TAKING
TRACE-TECHNOLOGY TO A WHOLE-NEW LEVEL: WE CAN MEASURE RESIDUE
RAPIDLY--AND WE DO THIS THROUGH A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE
FUNDAMENTAL CHEMISTRY. WE CAN ALSO DO THIS MEASUREMENT AT A
DISTANCE--AND LOOK AT SMALL AMOUNTS OF RESIDUE. SECURITY-ADVANCES
ARE BEING DEVELOPED TO RAPIDLY IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE HANDLED
EXPLOSIVE-MATERIALS, FROM THE BIOMARKERS THAT ARE PRESENT IN THEIR
BODY-FLUIDS--SUCH AS SALIVA AND SWEAT. TODAY'S ADVANCED
IMAGING-TECHNOLOGY CAN IDENTIFY THREATS HIDDEN ON PEOPLE--EVEN AT A
DISTANCE. ALSO, PREDICTIVE, SOPHISTICATED SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR
ANALYTICS ARE BEING EMPLOYED; THESE HELP SECURITY-AGENTS POINT OUT
INDIVIDUALS IN A CROWD WHO POSE A POTENTIAL THREAT."
(CLOSE):
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
"P-N-L"-DOT-GOV.
