1. DPRK Denuclearization

Jungmin Kang, Nautilus Institute Senior Associate and Science Fellow at the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) at Stanford University, describes the first steps that can be taken by the DPRK to "irreversibly dismantle its plutonium production programs and move the Six Party Talks forward."

2. Nanotechnology

The Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars on Feb. 6 held a conference on "Nanotechnology in China: Ambitions and Realities." The conference explored whether China is poised to become a leader in the field of nanotechnology, and how the United States would likely respond to China's growing capabilities. The conference website includes a webcast and power point presentations by the participants.

3. Japanese Nuclear Power

In a commentary in OhmyNews International, Hisane Misaki ("Japan's Nuke Power Policy Limps Along," 02/10/07) argues that although an accident-prone reactor has now been brought back online, Japan's "pluthermal" program remains beset with problems. Not the least of these is public skepticism of nuclear power.

4. Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued its fourth assessment report, which concluded that global warming is an indisputable and most likely caused by human activities. The summary for policy makers describes progress in understanding the drivers of climate change, climate processes and attribution, and estimates of projected future climate change.

5. Security Implications of Climate Change

Reuters (Mark Trevelyan, "Climate change seen fanning conflict and terrorism," 1/24/07) reported that participants at a conference on climate change and security warned that global warming could exacerbate the world's rich-poor divide and help to radicalize populations and fan terrorism in the countries worst affected.

6. Carbon Sequestration

The Toronto Globe and Mail (Shawn McCarthy, "Piping the problem underground") reports that some scientists see a massive potential for carbon sequestration, given the large amount of potential space in depleted oil and natural gas fields. Other scientists, however, worry that the CO2 could leak back onto the surface, or into the groundwater.

7. Portable Biorefinery

A group of scientists have developed a portable generator for the U.S. military that turns waste into electricity. The "tactical biorefinery" could alleviate the expense and danger associated with transporting waste and fuel, while at the same time removing garbage remnants that can provide clues to a military unit's movements.

8. Geothermal Development

A comprehensive new MIT-led study of the potential for geothermal energy within the United States has found that mining the huge amounts of heat that reside as stored thermal energy in the Earth's hard rock crust could supply a substantial portion of the electricity the United States will need in the future, probably at competitive prices and with minimal environmental impact.

9. Bird Flu Pandemic

The Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis issued a report on a workshop held in Tokyo to discuss the threat of an influenza pandemic in the Asia-Pacific region. Participants discussed how to enhance collaboration to minimize the health and economic impacts of an outbreak.