AP reports that the Department of Defence has, at least for the time being, banned USB flash drives and is collecting all Pentagon-owned drives from the entire department. The Pentagon hasn't issued an official statement, but a spokesman did say that they are dealing with a "global virus" that affects such external storage. Apparently, Department of Defence lackeys are being told that they may not get their drives back, and no information has been given regarding the length of the ban. A list of items now banned from the Pentagon after the jump.

Read More »

The Pentagon and the Department of Defence has recently put in a request to contractors for a multi-robot pursuit system to search and track down "non-cooperative humans." The military is worried that controlling robots will take time away from defence officials so creating a pack-hunting AI that will do it automatically will be useful. Once the system is perfected, government officials expect it to become autonomous and armed. Maybe next time, you'll think twice about littering or about to make a "California" stop. That's exactly what this economy needs anyways: a good use of taxpayers' dollars to replace more jobs. [New Scientist]

Terrorism. It could be all around you. It could be in the air you breathe, the food you eat, the loved one you kiss goodnight and even the MMO you play. Yes, friends, according to a recent presentation by Dr. Dwight Toavs, professor at the Pentagon's National Defence University, virtual worlds could easily hide a real terrorist plot. And to illustrate his point, Toavs supplied this example screen from World of Warcraft. It looks innocent enough, just documenting a good old dragon fire spell on the south gates of the Keep. Unless...wait...what could they really be referring to?

Read More »

It's been seven years since 9/11 and while we over here at New York are still squabbling over what should cover that empty patch of land in lower Manhattan, the folks in D.C. are ready to inaugurate their memorial tomorrow. Adjacent to the Pentagon crash site, the memorial contains 184 units placed parallel with the trajectory of American Airlines Flight 77.

Read More »

Pentagon gadget lab DARPA has just earmarked US$6.7 million to develop "brain-wave binoculars." Electrodes placed on the user's scalp records electrical brain activity in an attempt to use the cranium's unrivaled ability to spot patterns. With time, the binoculars can learn to identify objects that would normally pique the user's interest and direct them towards it. The binoculars are supposed to help soldiers out in the field by pointing out tanks or enemy combatants that they may have seen, but not noticed.

Read More »

Wired reports that the pentagon is developing advanced weapons with Reactive Materials, which can be used to create casings which explode upon impact. Warheads can have shells that explode when they hit walls, railguns can have slugs with explodable casings, and weapons with explosive shrapnel is in the works. Reactive materials are actually easier to transport than traditional explosives, but when hit with a certain impact, a chemical reaction occurs, causing combustion. Reactive materials can release energy in the form of a blast, fire, or both. Though its been in development for 30 years, the greatest breakthroughs have occurred in the past few years. Keep your eyes peeled. [Wired]

Read More »

Our Deep Throat at the Pentagon's parking lot has sent us an update with new pictures and the reason why the DARPA Challenge cars have taken over the military installation today: "they are showing off." After all, the men with the funny hats pay the bills. You can check his complete explanation here.

Read More »

Gizmodo reader Andrew Friend was strolling yesterday through the Pentagon's North Parking back to the office when he noticed the car above, MIT's entry in the DARPA Urban Challenge, which aims to produce a car that can run completely automated in any conditions, without human intervention. He reported today that all the challenge cars arrived today—"they must be doing something on the weekend when the parking lot clears out," he said. With no notice of a new challenge, what are all those cars doing there? Some possible answers, Google Maps location and a video showing how good these cars are, right after the jump. Updated: check the extra images from different cars and all the details about what is going on from another reader at the Pentagon right now.

Read More »

A report released this month by the Pentagon has revealed the truth behind the B-52 bomber—loaded with six live nuclear warheads—flying over the US, a mistake that could have had catastrophic consequences. Their explanation: an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of printed paper used to differentiate between nuclear and conventional missiles. Really, it can't get any more absurd than this:

Read More »

We thought this was pretty obvious, but after the Pentagon discovered Google Maps' 360-degree panoramic coverage of Fort Sam Houston Army base in Texas, they have officially banned them from "filming inside and making detailed studies of US military bases." How the heck the army allowed cars with cameras mounted on them inside their army bases is yet to be known. Next, CIA officially bans Google from snooping into their secret cake recipes database. [BBC News]

Read More »