Short Takes – 4-12-25

The Riskiest Devices of 2025: 12 Brand New Asset Types Arrive. Forescout.com blog post. Pull quote: “To defend the attack surface effectively, organizations must adopt modern security strategies that address risk across all device categories. A comprehensive risk and exposure management strategy must identify, prioritize and mitigate risk across IT, OT, IoT and IoMT — rather than treat them as silos. Avoid solutions that only address specific devices as these fail to provide a complete picture of risk. For example, OT or IoMT-only solutions cannot effectively assess IT risk, just as IT-focused tools lack visibility into specialized devices.”

Girl Scout cookies are safe to eat, scientists confirm. CEN.ACS.org article. Refuting junk food science. Pull quote: “For instance, a person would have to consume 92 Girl Scout cookies each day for the rest of their life to reach a harmful level of aluminum—a concept called the reference dose, Kaminski says. He and his colleagues identified the highest identified level of each contaminant in the GMOScience study and then used existing food-safety standards to calculate what would constitute a safe dose. Kaminski and his team published a blog post about their findings in March.”

Measles cases rise to 700, adding pressure to RFK Jr. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “Overall, 712 cases have been reported with new cases being discovered in Kansas, Ohio and Indiana, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak has now spread to 25 states, per the data.”

Honda Will Hitch a Ride on Dream Chaser to the ISS. PayLoadSpace.com article. Pull quote: “Honda’s ISS demo will, hopefully, prove its electrolysis system can perform in microgravity. While the system is focused on helping astronauts survive in space for extended periods, the company also envisions future applications to support renewable energy storage and utilization on Earth.”

Trump's Immigration Tactics Obstruct Efforts to Avert Bird Flu Pandemic, Experts Say. MedPageToday.com article. Pull quote: “The CDC has said it continues to track the bird flu, but Jennifer Nuzzo, DrPH, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, said the slowdown in cases might be due to a lack of testing. "I am concerned that we are seeing a contraction in surveillance and not necessarily a contraction in the spread of the virus."”

Trump administration's NOAA layoffs affected the space weather service that tracks solar storms. Space.com article. Pull quote: “"As a board director for a rural electric cooperative in Minnesota, we need to have predictions and local responses to protect the grid," Kathryn Draeger, Statewide Director of the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, told Space.com. "85% of Minnesota's geography is provided electricity through locally led rural electric coops. This is a constituent of NOAA's that needs further attention and support. Decreasing the capacity to support this sector makes our nation less resilient and more vulnerable to space weather."”