TSCM Nerd Corner News

• U.S. Army scientists at the CCDC Army Research Laboratory (ARL) have developed a first-of-its kind antenna that could change how ground vehicles and airborne systems communicate, transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The Army used a manufacturing process based on a special class of engineered materials known as metaferrites to make an ultra-thin wideband antenna. The antenna conforms to curved surfaces, making it ideal to integrate into unmanned aircraft systems, rotary wing aircrafts and ground vehicles. more
  
  
• Of ever-increasing concern for operating a tactical communications network is the possibility that a sophisticated adversary may detect friendly transmissions. Army researchers developed an analysis framework that enables the rigorous study of the detectability of ultraviolet communication systems... In particular, ultraviolet communication has unique propagation characteristics that not only allow for a novel non-line-of-sight optical link, but also imply that the transmissions may be harder for an adversary to detect. more
  
  
• Covert Ultrasonic Transmissions between Two Air-Gapped Computers using Speaker-to-Speaker Communication more
  
  
• Groundbreaking new material 'could allow artificial intelligence to merge with the human brain' more

The Scarlet Letter: 2019 - Old Spy Tool. New Use.

Ultraviolet ink has been used by spies (secret writing) and TSCM technicians (as tamper detection) for over a century. And now, to brand sexual assailants for groping.

Anti-groping stamp lets victims mark assailants.

The Japanese device is paired with a special lamp that lets its otherwise invisible ink be seen...

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police said 2,620 sexual crimes were reported in 2017, including 1,750 cases of groping, mostly on trains or at stations.

A limited run of 500 devices, which retailed at 2,500 yen (£19.30), sold out within 30 minutes on Tuesday... more

FutureWatch: Additional tech will continue to enhance citizen crime fighting. New technologies will be appropriated. Old technologies, like ultraviolet, will find new uses. 

Just think of what internet search engines, smartphone videos, video doorbells, and covert spy cameras have already accomplished in recent decades. 

I wonder why Gentian Violet in mini spray bottles wasn't thought of first. Instant ID. No UV light necessary.