 University of Cambridge researchers have developed a better armour by cutting holes in traditional armour. According to the designer, one shouldn't think of the perforations as holes but as edges. It turns out that the holes are better able to deflect projectiles, resulting in double the ballistic performance while cutting weight in half. |
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 | Full armour shot with a 50-mm at f2.5. All edges are trimmed with copper-coloured aluminum rings. The rest are steel rings. |
 | Detail of the neck, shot at f2.2 |
 | Closeup of the shoulder detailing. Copper-coloured aluminum rings are woven among steel. |
Source: National Geographic  Researchers had previously observed that fungus displayed enhanced growth inside the Chernobyl nuclear facility. Subsequent work has revealed that fungi containing melanin grow faster and larger when exposed to radiation. They believe that the melanin traps ionizing radiation, much like chlorophyll traps sunlight in plants, and uses it as "fuel" using an as-yet unknown mechanism. They hope to adapt this knowledge to raise fungi as food in space where radiation is abundant. |
Source: MIT Technology Review  University of Illinois researchers have succeeded in producing sheets of stretchable silicon. This should allow them to place transistors on complex surfaces, or even to flexible surfaces like rubber. One application they envision is a smart surgical glove that could provide information such as the pH of the surgical environment. They also envision wrapping silicon-based photodetectors around a sphere to create an electronic eye. |
Source: ABC News  This week, two members of a cell linked to the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and Animal Liberation Front (ALF) have been charged with committing acts of domestic terrorism. The sentences have generated a storm of controversy about whether deliberate acts of arson and vandalism, even when nobody has been killed, can be considered acts of terrorism. The ELF and ALF claim to have committed more than 1,100 acts of arson and vandalism without killing a single person, of which the defendants' cell group claimed 20 acts of arson resulting in more than $40-million (US) in damages. The question remains, is it terrorism when those performing the acts take care to avoid killing people? |
Source: Manchester Evening News  Britain has added another piece of technology to their police force: head-mounted video cameras. The article discusses outfitting traffic wardens with the devices, but they have already started testing them out with police officers. |
Source: Wired  Dutch scientists have developed a polymer-based bullet-proof vest that is thinner, lighter, and more effective than Kevlar. Unlike previous polymer-based vests, this one does not degrade when exposed to moisture. |
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