Darpa's Element Of Surprise....

Darpa's Element Of Surprise


Space reboot
It has also continued its interest in satellites, including its Phoenix project that aims to develop technologies that reboot retired, non-working satellites. (Copyright: Darpa)

When President Barack Obama earlier this month announced a new $100m year brain initiative, it was no surprise the White House would tap agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation to help lead the effort. Less obvious, at least to some, was the role of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), a military agency that is perhaps better known for its development of weapons like stealth aircraft than medical technology. That an agency founded over 50 years ago as the original space agency—before Nasa was created—would now become a leading government agency for brain research might be unexpected, but it is perhaps in line with an usual history that has spanned early work on spy satellites to current effort to help develop cyber weapons.


Spy games
Today it is also known for its work on far out projects, such as its attempts to turn insects into tiny spies using implanted systems. (Copyright: Darpa)
Sky high
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) is the high-risk research arm of the US Pentagon, tasked with creating cutting edge technologies. (Copyright: Lockheed Martin)



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http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130425-darpa-the-element-of-surprise