Douglas Ernst

U.N. embraces drones: ‘Tool of choice’ makes first deployment over DR Congo

The United Nations has officially embraced the drone. Unarmed surveillance drones are being deployed over the Democratic Republic of Congo to monitor rebel activity near the borders of Rwanda and Uganda, the BBC reported.

December 3, 2013

U.S. drops 2,000 mice on Guam — by parachute — to kill snakes

U.S. helicopters descended upon Guam on Sunday with cargo meant to kill, although this $8 million mission was unlike most others — 2,000 mice on cardboard parachutes were released into the forest surrounding Andersen Air Force Base as bait for brown tree snakes.

December 3, 2013

NORAD takes fire for giving Santa Claus fighter jet escorts

The North American Aerospace Defense Command's popular Track Santa program is back for 2013, but the news that St. Nick will be getting fighter jet escorts isn't going over well with everyone, with some child advocates speaking out against the move.

December 3, 2013

Scientists find giant prehistoric communal toilet used 240M years ago

Giant reptiles shared a single toilet 240 million years ago, and scientists have the evidence to prove it.

November 29, 2013

Josh Romney to the rescue! Mitt’s son pulls four from mangled SUV

Mitt Romney's son Josh wasn't expecting to pull four people from a mangled SUV on Thanksgiving — but that's exactly what he did.

November 29, 2013

German cop accused of slaying man who wanted to be killed and eaten

A German police officer has been accused of slaying a stranger who requested in an Internet chat room that he wanted to be killed and eaten.

November 29, 2013

Chinese give birth in the United States to secure benefits: ‘Birth-tourism’ is born

A new U.S. industry is booming with Chinese women — the "birth-tourism" industry. Thousands of Chinese women are flocking to America each year to give birth, Time Magazine reported. The move confers citizenship on the newborns, which opens up a range of benefits for foreigners.

November 29, 2013

Obamacare expected to add 300K New Yorkers to Medicaid rolls

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget office is bracing for a wave of Medicaid recipients due to Obamacare. In one year, New York's Medicaid rolls are predicted to jump from 5.3 million to 5.6 million members, the New York Post reported Friday.

November 29, 2013

NSA spied on online sexual habits of U.S. Muslims, Snowden docs reveal

The National Security Agency has been keeping a record of the pornography-viewing habits of Muslim Americans, according to leaker Edward Snowden. Documents to back up his claims were provided to The Huffington Post, which prompted the American Civil Liberties Union to issue a statement shortly afterward.

November 27, 2013

Man threw out computer with $6.5 million worth of bitcoins on it

James Howells claims he threw out his computer months ago with 7,500 bitcoins stored on it. Translation: He's out roughly $6.5 million unless he's willing to dig through four months worth of garbage at a nearby recycling center.

November 27, 2013

Drone drops contraband into Georgia prison yard

A Georgia prison yard recently had a special delivery for inmates, when a small helicopter flew over the facility and dropped tobacco products inside the gates, WALB Channel 10 Georgia reported.

November 27, 2013

Iranian president uses Obama playbook, gets ‘Yes We Can’-inspired video

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani must have loved President Obama's "Yes we can" campaign video, because he now has one of his own.

November 26, 2013

Secret society seeks world’s smartest: ‘Cicada 3301’ recruits jump down ‘darknet’ rabbit hole

A mysterious post on an Internet message board has both flummoxed and fascinated some of the world's best code breakers and cryptographers, many of whom are now fixated on deciphering the message.

November 26, 2013

Ayatollah Khamenei backs Iranian nuclear deal

President Obama has a new fan of the nuclear deal that was brokered with Iran over the weekend: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

November 26, 2013

No smoking — at home? Calif. city passes strictest ordinance in U.S.

Many citizens of San Rafael City, Calif. are now prohibited from smoking — in their own homes.

November 26, 2013

Seattle gun owner thwarts store robbery: ‘I have a bigger one than you do’

A Seattle shopkeeper and gun owner scared off two armed robbers on Saturday night with a direct message: "I have a bigger one than you do."

November 26, 2013

Fighter jets will be armed with lasers by 2030: Air Force

Mark it on your calendars: The U.S. Air Force aims to have laser-based fighter jets by 2030.

November 22, 2013

Venezuela’s Maduro moves to limit profit margins in quick use of emergency powers

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro didn't waste any time using the "emergency powers" granted to him on Tuesday by the National Assembly. Only weeks after sending in troops to force an electronics store chain to lower prices, Mr. Maduro issued a decree that profit margins can be limited.

November 22, 2013

China’s ‘Sharp Sword’ stealth drone takes flight

The U.S. has had air supremacy for years, but the Chinese aim to change that with "Sharp Sword," a stealth drone that made its first test flight on Friday, according to several media outlets.

November 22, 2013

Union employees should ‘take over’ Boeing factories, says Seattle’s new councilmember

Seattle's first Socialist council member is now on record with a "radical" option for union employees in their standoff with Boeing: take over the factories.

November 21, 2013