The Pentagon's research and engineering directorate confirmed today it is effectively severing ties with an independent group of scientists known as JASON, as the Defense Department says it makes “economic sense” to end a studies program that cost about $35 million over the past five years. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract held by MITRE Corp. to operate and facilitate JASON studies expired on March 31, according to DOD spokeswoman Heather Babb. The office of the under secretary of defense for research...