Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Helen Sullivan

Spy balloons: what are they and why are they still being used?

United States John Blaxland China Alexander Neill Joe Biden Pentagon Civil War

On Thursday, the Pentagon said it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon flying across the US. They may not hold the same intrigue as a buttonhole camera or arsenic hidden in a tooth, but spy balloons have been used for centuries – and, experts say, their use is likely to increase in future.

What happened above the US on Friday?

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Travis Barker reveals reason for hospital visit
Travis Barker shared photos from hospital, where his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, and daughter, Alabama Barker, were by his side, on Tuesday (06.10.26).
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
George Clooney ‘planning to open Italian restaurant in France’
The Oscar-winning actor is said to be preparing to open the eaterie near the Provençal estate where his family have established their home in France.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
“Is Picking Your Nose Actually Bad For You? Human Anatomy Reveals A Surprisingly Nuanced Answer
Picking your nose might help you breathe more easily, but an anatomy video shows why scratching one particular area may be more dangerous than it appears.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Cigarette Smoke Reprogrammed Lung Stem Cells in Lab Models and Helped Steer Which Lung Cancer Type Formed
A Johns Hopkins lab study found that cigarette smoke primed lung stem cells for specific cancer types. What it shows and what it does not prove.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
That Cute Squishy Toy Contains Water Beads — CPSC Says Stop Using It
A colorful squishy toy that looks like an innocent stress reliever may hide something parents cannot see: expandable water beads. About 37,000 Squishy Dumpling and Crazy Squib Ball toys were recalled on October 1 after regulators determined that their water beads could expand beyond federal limits and create a potentially…
Kids Ain't Cheap
Kids Ain't Cheap
103-year-old World War II veteran still runs a basement bar in Maryland that would be illegal to open today
At 103, World War II veteran Irvin Koch is still behind the counter at Irv’s Basement Bar in Maryland, a watering hole he has run since 1963. But there is a surprising reason his unusual home-based bar has survived for more than six decades: modern zoning rules would make it…
The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play