English: A 2007 Department of Homeland Security experimental cyber attack code-named "Aurora" forced this generator to self-destruct. Larger such devices provide virtually all of America's electrical power. Should computer spies penetrate system defenses and destroy substantial numbers of these machines, whole regions would be without poor indefinitely until new equipment could be obtained from manufacturers - the majority of which are located in China.

Aurora Experiment: In a controlled hack, government researchers changed the operating cycle of a generator, sending it out of control. The $1 million maritime diesel-electric generator was one of the sturdiest machines on the market, but the extreme vibrations caused by the attack tore it apart, shredding the rubber bushing and shearing off this piston. Some pieces landed as far away as 80 ft. from the generator.

On loan from R. Folkers, J. Roberts, M. Assante, and B. Kuehnle