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Scientific information is more and more buried in the proliferation of commercial sites on the Internet. This means that valuable chemistry sites and chemical databases are difficult to find. In this paper some databases selected by the authors are introduced. These sites can be divided into three groups: databases which used to be only available through commercial hosts; databases which are available commercially but parts of them on the free Internet; and databases of topical concern, e.g. chemical weapons. All the mentioned databases can be found in a structured format in the DAIN Metadatabase of Internet Resources for Environmental Chemicals, which is explained in this paper. An important further step to get out of the information labyrinth is the evaluation of the content of data‐sources for chemicals. Approaches have been made to analyze chemical databases applying discrete mathematical methods and multivariate statistics.

The purpose of this paper is to provide details of recent developments in sensors for detecting explosives and chemical warfare agents.

Following an introduction, this paper first discusses a selection of new sensing techniques aimed at detecting explosives and explosive devices. It then considers new developments in sensors for detecting chemical warfare agents. Brief concluding comments are drawn.

This paper shows that a diversity of sensor technologies is being investigated, including various advanced optical methods, nanomaterials, microelectromechanical system, electronic noses, biosensors and electrochemical techniques, several of which offer levels of sensitivity in the parts-per-trillion region. These not only have the potential to yield improved devices for detecting explosives and chemical weapons but may also play a role in health care, environmental monitoring, drug detection and industrial health and safety.

In an era of escalating terrorism and military conflicts, this provides a timely review of new technologies for detecting explosives and chemical warfare agents.

The world community has long striven for the liquidation of chemical weapons of mass destruction. The 1925 Geneva treaty “On the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacterial Methods of Warfare” was the first international accord on chemical weapons prohibition. Signed by 125 countries, the USSR ratified the treaty in December 1927. The later development of the “Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and their Destruction” (henceforth “the Convention”) followed this early step and was undertaken with Russia's active participation. The Convention was signed by the Russian Federation in January 1993 and ratified by the State Duma in November 1997 with the decision to end chemical weapons stockpiling by 2007. As a signatory, Russia accepted international responsibilities for solving many interrelated problems, paramount among them was the protection of people and the environment (The Convention…, 1994, item 4).

This paper aims to provide technical details of the techniques used for the remote detection of chemical compounds in a number of applications and also to highlight key research themes.

Following a short introduction, this first considers remote gas detection using the DIAL technique. Remote gas cloud imaging is then discussed, and this is followed by a review of chemical warfare agent detection technologies. A selection of research activities and product developments aimed at remotely detecting explosives are considered and, finally, brief concluding comments are drawn.

Remote gas sensing is now a practical reality, and products are available which can remotely detect, identify, quantify and in some cases visualise a wide range of toxic and environmentally threatening gases. These satisfy numerous industrial, environmental and military applications. Remotely detecting explosives poses a significant technological challenge, and despite some commercialisation, it remains the topic of an extensive research effort, much involving LIBS and Raman techniques. Importantly, much of this work also has potential in non-military applications, with several developments being shown to detect various industrially important compounds.

This provides a technical insight into the techniques and products used in a range of remote chemical sensing applications.

This paper aims to provide a review of the uses of gas sensors to detect explosives' vapours and chemical warfare agents (CWAs).

Following a brief introduction, this paper first considers the use of gas sensors to detect explosives. Second, gas sensors that respond to CWAs are discussed. Some mentioned is made of commercial devices but the emphasis is on emerging technologies and recent research.

Detecting explosives is an emerging application for gas sensors. Despite some commercial products, it is the topic of a major research effort and poses a significant technological challenge due to the very low vapour concentrations involved. Many optical and solid‐state techniques are under development and some have shown ppt levels of resolution to TNT and allied compounds. Detecting CWAs is a far more mature application and many products exist, often based on analytical methods. Nevertheless, research into improved sensing techniques continues, frequently aimed at detecting ppb concentrations of nerve agents. Much of this research is aimed at meeting the needs of, and is being funded by, the US military and security agencies.

This paper provides a technical review of recent developments in the use of gas sensors to detect explosives and CWAs.

Peace on Earth has often been elusive, with more times on Earth spent at war rather than peace. This paper examines the nature of peace with its antithesis of war, focussing on the impact of war on the planet, which is not a primary consideration when war is waged. War leaves negative planetary legacies, which are of major concerns in times of population growth whilst living on a finite planet. Who should be responsible for planetary impact of war is considered, with some focus on government and other organisations. Collaborative strategies for caring for the planet through guidelines and level of departments of defence and national law-making organisations at national levels are discussed, as well as overviewing the focus and role of the United Nations and the associated Sustainability Goals. The paper concludes by suggesting that a more powerful way to influence us in our responsibilities to live peacefully, rather than a virtuous ‘should not’ approach, is the need to shift back to a moral positioning in our perspectives as humans being part of the ecosystem, so that we view ourselves as being at one with all life. In this perspective, if we incur harm to this planet, we are harming ourselves. Suggestions for living in a more peaceful way are drawn from indigenous wisdom and spiritual teachers, particularly the current Pope Francis.

This chapter examines how the nature of World War I catalyzed significant changes in the laws of war, the Treaty of Versailles, the failed Leipzig Trials, and the multiple treaties enacted in the 1920s, with particular focus on the Geneva Convention of 1929.

This paper discusses the size and structure of the global biosensor market which is presently dominated by medical applications.

It considers a number of recent developments based on nanotechnology.

Identifies homeland security as an emerging area offering significant prospects for technological innovation and market growth.

Of interest to those concerned with technology developments.

Aims to highlight how food contamination, whether accidental or deliberate, can have far‐reaching impact on individuals, organisations and the food supply chain.

This paper focuses on the use of agents such as foreign animal disease (FAD). The research included a literature review and evaluation to determine the mechanisms currently in place to counter‐act bioterrorism in the food supply chain with particular emphasis on poultry.

Food terrorism, where the contaminant is a FAD, would cause severe economic disruption by direct costs due to the culling of livestock and the compensation paid to growers. It could also lead to consequential loss to the local or national economy, loss of consumer confidence in the food supply chain and loss of political confidence and support following the mass culling of livestock, with some agents having the ability to impact directly on human health.

This paper analyses the current state of preparedness for food terrorism in the food supply chain and is of relevance to a cross‐section of the industry.

This paper aims to provide details of miniaturised analytical instrument technologies and developments.

Following an introduction and historical background, this first considers miniaturised chromatographs and spectrometers based on micro-electromechanical system (MEMS)/micro total analytical system technologies. It then discusses lab-on-a-chip developments with an emphasis on capillary electrophoresis. Developments in the emerging lab-on-paper technology are then considered and are followed by brief concluding comments.

This shows that many classes of analytical instruments which offer a number of operational and economic benefits have been miniaturised through the use of microfabrication and other technologies. They are an active field of research and are based on silicon, glass, polymers and even paper and are underpinned by developments in microfluidics and optofluidics and fabrication techniques which include lithography, MEMS and micro-opto-electromechanical system.

This provides an insight into the rapidly developing field of miniaturised analytical instrument technologies.