The Invisible Cloak

Black is getting blacker.

Researchers in New York reported this month that they have created a paper-thin material that absorbs 99.955 percent of the light that hits it, making it by far the darkest substance ever made -- about 30 times as dark as the government's current standard for blackest black.

The material, made of hollow fibers, is a Roach Motel for photons -- light checks in, but it never checks out. By voraciously sucking up all surrounding illumination, it can give those who gaze on it a dizzying sensation of nothingness.

"It's very deep, like in a forest on the darkest night," said Shawn-Yu Lin, a scientist who helped create the material at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. "Nothing comes back to you. It's very, very, very dark."

But scientists are not satisfied. Using other new materials, some are trying to manufacture rudimentary Harry Potter-like cloaks that make objects inside of them literally invisible under the right conditions -- the pinnacle of stealthy technology.

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BEML displays new technology driven products at DEFEXPO 2008

Land and ground support equipments major Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) has displayed an array of technology-driven products at the Defence Exposition (DEFEXPO) 2008 here. From its wide range of products, the company displayed a command post vehicle, BEML-Tatra driving simulator, armoured recovery vehicle, aircraft-towing tractor and weapon loading system (BHIMA) at the Feb 16-19 DEFEXPO at Pragati Maidan.

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Stealth Fleet Grounded

America's entire B-2 stealth bombing fleet, which has played a crucial part in all major conflicts since 1999, has been grounded after one of the jets crashed near a military base in Guam.

The crash - the first involving the £610 million plane - was the most expensive single aircraft accident in history.

A senior US military source told The Sunday Telegraph that all remaining B-2 stealth bombers were on a "no-fly" order and that there would be no further take-offs until the initial investigation into the crash had been completed.

To read more of this content at The Daily Telegraph, click here.

First-Ever B2 Crash

The first ever crash of a U.S. Air Force B-2 occurred this morning at 10:30 local time shortly after the stealthy bomber took off at Andersen AFB, Guam.

No munitions were onboard the B-2, which was manufactured by Northrop Grumman, at the time of the crash, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Both pilots ejected prior to the crash and survived. One has been released and the other is in stable condition at Guam Naval Hospital.

To read more of this content at the ARES Aviation Week Blog, click here.

Cyber-Terror: Behind the Keyboard With Hassan Abu-jihaad

If appearance matters, Hassan Abu-jihaad is an improbable holy warrior.

His demeanor has been painfully meek during the legal proceedings leading up to his trial Monday in federal court in New Haven, where he is charged with transmitting military secrets to terrorists. Mostly, he has been a bewildered-looking man in an oversize prison jumpsuit.

Little is known about him. He was born Paul R. Hall and lived in Southern California. He converted to Islam, changed his name and joined the Navy. Later, he would be recorded by the FBI laughing with a friend at an al-Qaida propaganda video showing an insurgent known as the Juba sniper killing American soldiers in Iraq.

To read more of this content at the Courant.Com, click here