The September 11 terrorist attacks have spurred intense research efforts to develop new and better technologies that can be used in the War on Terror. Whether these innovations are designed to combat immediate threats or prevent future disasters, they will undoubtedly save lives.

The Bridge (1) is a quarterly publication of the National Academy of Engineering. The latest issue is comprised of seven articles that address various engineering challenges that arose from the aftermath of September 11. Mainly involved in research and development for the US, the Technical Support Working Group (2) strives to fight terrorism at all levels. Its Web site describes many of its current projects, which range in topic from infrastructure protection to surveillance. Brain Fingerprinting (3) is a remarkable technology that detects information stored in a subject's brain by the brain waves produced when presented with certain material on a computer screen. Its application to counterterrorism, as well as to criminal investigations, is outlined on the site. An article in a recent issue of the Science and Technology Review (4), published by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, looks at a breakthrough in combating "biological and chemical warfare." Called L-Gel, the material neutralizes hazardous substances (e.g., anthrax) while being safe for humans. The April issue of the Journal of Homeland Defense (5) has an article by the esteemed Dr. Philip J. Wyatt. He focuses on how to effectively detect and respond to a bioterrorism attack. The Web site of ECSI International (6) has a lot of detailed technical information on their anti-terrorism products, including a facial recognition system and intrusion detection systems. While the September 11 attacks were aimed at causing physical damage, cyberterrorism can be a serious problem as well. This paper (7) addresses cyber security and offers some ideas that can minimize the risk. Homeland Defense (8) is a Web site of the US Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command. It provides specific information, in the form of fact sheets and reports, about the response capabilities of government and emergency authorities in the event of a terrorist act involving weapons of mass destruction.