Introducing the gel-filled army helmet that will crush bullets as they penetrate it

[Are_grits_groceries]

On the face of it a layer of orange jelly may not sound the best way to protect a soldier's head from high velocity bullets and shrapnel.
But the British Army's standard-issue combat helmet is set to be upgraded with a liner made from gooey miracle gel, which responds to a sudden impact by locking instantly into a solid form - absorbing huge amounts of energy harmlessly.
A UK-based technology company was today celebrating a £100,000 contract from the Ministry of Defence to develop its D3O shock-absorbing gel to help save the lives of British troops fighting on the frontline in Afghanistan.


It is already in use in a range of sports and ski wear featuring flexible knee pads or soft hats which instantly stiffen into protective layers when a skier or snowboarder hits the ground hard.

Now the same technology is destined for use in war zones.
Scientists are pushing ahead with design and testing of infantry helmet liners, and the MoD hopes the gel could also soon be used in new types of body armour and other protective kit.
Ultimately the army's existing bulky helmets and heavy, restrictive body armour could be slimmed down thanks to the addition of pockets and layers of jelly.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1156544/Introducing-gel-filled-army-helmet-crush-bullets-penetrate-it.html

Hmmmmmmmmmmm... This could be a real breakthrough.

[eilen]

1. Remember when it was the R&D by the gov't for military and space

programs that filtered down to the commercial applications and not the other way around?

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. Been a while. nt

[Tesha]

3. "Corn starch" technology!

A mixture of corn starch and water has this same characteristic
and makes a nice "kitchen science" demo. Push your finger into
it slowly, and it's just soft goo; in goes your finger easily. But
strike it sharply and it's *HARD*!

Tesha

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. Heh! I forgot.

They did an experiment with that on NUMB3RS.

[xchrom]

4. cool for the orange jelly. nt

[nickgutierrez]

5. Very clever.

I remember reading a while back that the same technology is being adapted for batting gloves, for baseball players. It's easy to see how a 2.5 pound ball, traveling over 90 miles an hour, might break a bone or two - it's even easier to see how the technology can be used to actually save lives. Here's hoping it works.