Today’s physics news: Neuroscience’s military applications, NASA on fission propulsion and maths teaching in the UK

Neuroscience could mean soldiers controlling weapons with minds

A new Royal Society report, published today, says neuroscience breakthroughs could be harnessed by military and law enforcers.  The report by the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science, says that while the rapid advance of neuroscience is expected to benefit society and improve treatments for brain disease and mental illness, it also has substantial security applications that should be carefully analysed.

Guardian

Fission power back on NASA’s agenda

A new space-technology report prioritises nuclear propulsion as means for space travel.

Nature
Numeracy Campaign: British teenagers among worst for dropping maths

As part of the Daily Telegraph’s ‘Make Britain Count’ campaign – a drive to improve young people’s level of numeracy – the Daily Telegraph reports comments from Professor Stephen Sparks, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Maths Education (ACME), about British schoolchildren being less likely to study maths to a high standard than in most other developed countries because of failings in the way the subject is delivered. 

Daily Telegraph