Friday, April 30, 2004
Liquid Protection
Science fiction has always fascinated me. It is one of the few genres of fiction that can completely absorb me and close off the rest of the world. In fact, many times I have been so engrossed in a story that several hours later, I will suddenly jerk back into reality and it can take me a minute to get my bearings...much like waking from a dream. In science fiction you will find a mixture of science and soldiers...or warriors.One of the reasons I love science so much is because we get to see technology advance; things that were once merely imagined in a writer's mind, come to life.
Our soldiers have come a long way since WWII, the Korean war, Vietnam...even Gulf War I. Some of the technology being used today by our military is simply amazing. The accuracy of our weapons is beyond words and I know that they are only going to get better, more precise.
The downside to war is, of course, casualties and science is always looking for ways to minimize, if not completely eradicate, wounded and killed.
Liquid Body Armor--Coming Soon
Army scientists are working on a liquid body armor for clothing that stays flexible during normal use but can harden to stop a projectile when hit suddenly...
... The liquid, hard particles suspended in a fluid, is soaked into layers of Kevlar, which holds it in place...
..."If it's impacted suddenly by a projectile or a knife, say, it rigidifies and somehow restricts the ability of the fabric to move."
This research is still in its early stages, (three years), and it is unknown if it can yet stop bullets. Additionally, the current idea is for this to be utilized by prison guards and police. The article also states it may help in car and plane crashes.
However, if they continue working on this, I believe it is very possible to make it usable for our soldiers. It will depend on how light they can make it, if it can stop bullets, what caliber, at what distance and what are the possibilities for as much coverage as possible.
I would like to know if they can develop it to prevent injuries from explosions such as bomb blasts or IEDs. If they can make a full liquid body armor suit that will stop bullets and shrapnel from very close distances......sigh...that would be a very good thing.
One debate we always had in my science classes was if there was a limit to what is possible. My answer has always been...."Where there is an idea, a passion, an intellectual curiosty and backing, there is a way."
What was impossible just 50 years ago is now done everyday. I hope that science finds a way to keep all of our troops alive someday.
