The Specter of Chemical and Biological Weapons
Efforts to harness the power of toxic chemicals and deadly organisms have been at the core of chemical and biological attacks throughout history. This package chronicles such incidents before and after Syria's recent alleged chemical weapon attack on civilians outside Damascus
Who Made the Sarin Used in Syria?
Some telltale signs could hint at the origins of the nerve poison
Is it Too Late to Determine Which Chemical Weapons Were Used in Syria?
Probably not, but it's better to act sooner than later
U.S. Bioterror Detection Program Comes Under Scrutiny
A national air sampling system tasked with picking up terrorist biological attacks faces scrutiny
New Study Finds Agent Orange Use Was Underestimated
Shocking Pink: An Inexpensive Test for Chemical Weapon Attacks
Paper sensors change color from blue to pink within 30 seconds of exposure to trace amounts of the toxic gas
Anthrax Toxicity Depends on Human Genetics
The white powder that arrived in envelopes addressed to lawmakers and journalists in 2001 proved to be a deadly delivery for several people. The lethal substance—spores commonly known as Anthrax (from the bacterium Bactillus anthracis )—can cause a toxic reaction in a host's blood stream, killing cells and leading to tissue damage, bleeding and death.But just how toxic anthrax is to an individual might depend on their genetic makeup, according to a new study, published online Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ...
Agent Orange Linked to Leukemia
Better Killing through Chemistry
Buying chemical weapons material through the mail is quick and easy
Gulf War syndrome is the real deal, science panel says
Complaints of memory and concentration problems, headaches, pain and fatigue among Gulf War vets have often fallen on deaf ears – until now. A Department of Veterans Affairs advisory panel has concluded that Gulf War syndrome is a real illness affecting at least 174,000 soldiers, a quarter of those who served in the 1991 Persian Gulf conflict...
Army seeks to eliminate its chemical weapons by blowing them up
Chemical warfare has long been banned from the battlefield, but safely eliminating the world's aging mustard gas, sarin and other chemical weapon stockpiles has proven difficult.
Seven Years Later: Electrons Unlocked Post-9/11 Anthrax Mail Mystery
A key part of the FBI's early investigation was finding whether the germ that killed five people in late 2001 was weaponized. Although they found the answer, scientists had to keep mum until the agency completed its inquiry...
Is Karzai's Accusation That Coalition Forces Are Polluting Afghanistan with Nuclear Material Accurate or an Over-Reaction?
Afghan President Hamid Karzai's recent comment that U.S. and NATO-led forces use weapons with "nuclear components" may be a reference to depleted-uranium munitions, whose health impact is still being studied...
Battling bioterror--A new test for ricin
Scientists say they have developed a fast and supersensitive new test for ricin, a poison found in castor beans that scientists say is a prime candidate for use in bioterrorism attacks.
Murderous Mail: How Dangerous Are the D.C. Ricin Attacks?
Although not as easily delivered as weaponized anthrax, ricin in purified form can be just as deadly
