CBRNE Archives

The Societal and Economic Dangers of Agroterrorism

Michael (Mike) Nicholls March 12, 2025

While Ireland’s potato blight was destructive to the Irish population, modern agroterror attacks could be designed to hurt a nation’s economy rather than to kill its people. However, positively identifying agroterrorists would be a formidable task.

Cost Analysis: Protecting the Grid and Electronics from an EMP

The Foundation for Infrastructure Resilience March 12, 2025

Because modern societies are increasingly reliant on electronics, they are more vulnerable to the effects of an electromagnetic pulse event. As nations move to electrify their critical infrastructure and essential services, the cascading effects of a power grid disruption increase their vulnerability.

Imagining the U.S. Without Power: A Dual-World EMP Exercise

Charles (Chuck) L. Manto, K. Luke Reiner and Dave Hunt February 12, 2025

A dual-world tabletop exercise simulating an electromagnetic pulse event in Chicopee, Massachusetts, revealed startling discrepancies in outcomes between the city’s current preparedness and a moderate-preparedness simulation.

Emergency Management of Tomorrow: Emerging Technologies and Concepts

Dan Cotter, Christina Bapst-Stump, Ann Lesperance and Rachel A. Bartholomew December 11, 2024

More frequent and intense disasters put pressure on emergency managers and emergency operations centers to share and analyze data faster than ever before and with more reliability and defensibility. The future of emergency management is changing fast—and so is the science and technology to protect it.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure From Weaponized Drones

David Winks, Steve Chill, Frederick Ferrer, Michael J. "Apollo" Lovell, Mike Swearingen and Mary Lasky December 4, 2024

Electricity substations are traditionally only protected by chain link fences and signage warning of the dangers of high voltage. However, this still leaves property vulnerable, especially to weaponized drones attacking from above, a mode of terrorism being used more extensively across the world and at home.

National Laboratory Partnerships: Linking Operations and Research

Ryan Eddy and Ann Lesperance September 25, 2024

The September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 spurred a pivotal change in the way the U.S. approaches preparedness for threats to the homeland. In recognition of National Preparedness Month, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory showcases how national laboratories address homeland security threats by developing the technology and other resources first

Bridging Preparedness: State Medication Reserves for Pandemics and Beyond

Angie Im August 14, 2024

New human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been confirmed in the United States. Although most cases like this do not escalate to pandemic status, it is critical that communities be better prepared than they were for COVID-19. However, one study shows that preparedness gaps may hinder these efforts.

Fentanyl Hazards and Detection

Ashley Bradley and Kristin Omberg June 12, 2024

The deadly opioid epidemic in the United States does not stop at overdoses. It also poses life-threatening exposure to first responders who arrive on scene. Learn about the new ways scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are expanding detection strategies and technologies to keep these responders safe.

A Modern Take on an Age-Old Biological Weapon

Raphael M. Barishansky June 12, 2024

Reports about North Korea launching balloons filled with fecal matter and propaganda into South Korean territory were intriguing. However, this incident raises public health concerns and the question of whether fecal matter could be utilized in modern times as an effective biological weapon.

National Security: A Range of Threats

Anthony (Tony) Mottola and Richard Schoeberl May 1, 2024

From organized foreign terrorist groups to homegrown terrorists inspired by them, members of the intelligence community have indicated that the threat of attack inside the U.S. has increased to its highest point since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Communities must explore solutions to meet the ongoing challenges and

The Missing Plague Vials

Robert C. Hutchinson April 17, 2024

A true story of missing bubonic plague vials, an airport bomb threat, and other suspicious activities again demonstrate continued national and homeland security vulnerabilities and threats. Perspectives may differ, but the concerns are real and provide an opportunity to learn and prepare.

Protecting Infrastructure – Cyber, Physical, and EMP Attacks

David Winks February 21, 2024

Imagine 3,500 spiders, each with their own style, getting together to create a giant web. That’s how this author describes the U.S. power grid and the complexities related to protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber, physical, and electromagnetic pulse attacks.

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