Can makeup save u. S. Soldiers' lives?

Theweek

Can makeup save u. S. Soldiers' lives?"


Play all audios:

Loading...

Soldiers often smear camouflage makeup on their faces before entering dangerous combat zones. But sometimes, the oil- or wax-based chemicals in face paint catch fire from a blast, which


inflicts even more damage on the skin. That's why the Army is funding research for a new kind of high-tech combat makeup that, instead of putting a soldier at extra risk, can actually


withstand a thermal blast as hot as 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit. A closer look at the Army's bomb-repellant makeup: WHAT DOES THE FACE PAINT DO? "When a roadside bomb or other


explosive device goes off, it hits everything nearby with an extreme blast of pressure" followed immediately by more than 1,000 degrees of skin-searing heat, says Colin Lecher at


_Popular Science_, or about the same temperature as the burning tip of a cigarette. The Army's new face paint, presented this week at the American Chemical Society's meeting, not


only functions as a heat shield, but is also waterproof and incorporates DEET, a type of insect repellant. SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEK Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus


analysis from multiple perspectives. SUBSCRIBE & SAVE SIGN UP FOR THE WEEK'S FREE NEWSLETTERS From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The


Week delivered directly to your inbox. From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT AT


PROTECTING SKIN? Normally a bomb blast lasts a mere two seconds. Tests showed that the makeup protects "naked hands and feet for 15 seconds before mild, first degree burns


appeared," says Molly Docherty at _New Scientist_. (Watch a demonstration below.) That gives a soldier valuable time to scramble away to safety. HOW WAS THE MAKEUP MADE? In order to


create the skin cream, researchers turned to silicones rather than the "fatty substances in traditional face paint," says Megan Gannon at _LiveScience_. One problem: DEET bug


repellant is highly flammable, yet it must compose 35 percent of all camouflage makeup, according to a military mandate. To solve the problem, scientists encapsulated DEET with a water-rich


hydrogel, which prevented it from catching fire. A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com WHAT'S NEXT? The research team from


the University of Southern Mississippi is putting together a clear, colorless version to be used by firefighters. They're also working on a fire-resistant formula to fireproof clothing


and tents, says _New Scientist_'s Docherty. See for yourself: _SOURCES: Live Science, New Scientist, Popular Science_


Trending News

Hindustan motors board oks write-off of securities premium account

Its paid up share capital will also halve to about Rs805 million from Rs1.6 billion, Hindustan Motors said in a statemen...

After charlottesville: having tough conversations in an age of extremism (opinion)

By Nate Bowling “Mr. Bowling, I think I want to be a _mujahid_ and go fight in Syria.” You really don’t forget a convers...

Research assistants | Nature

ARTICLE PDF AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Biochemistry, Middlesex Hospital Medical School,...

Honoring and celebrating our volunteers | va marion health care | veterans affairs

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month and April 17th-21st, more specifically, is VA Volunteer Appreciation Week...

Protesters interrupt georgia power energy plan hearings

Protesters interrupted a hearing Wednesday at the Georgia Public Service Commission. The five commissioners are consider...

Latests News

Can makeup save u. S. Soldiers' lives?

Soldiers often smear camouflage makeup on their faces before entering dangerous combat zones. But sometimes, the oil- or...

Can latin america and the caribbean trust china as a business partner?  

On December 7, a few days after the third China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum, the Chin...

Wheelchair bound, this gutsy woman has travelled to 11 countries, large chunk of india

Monalisa Das | The News Minute | December 25, 2014 | 10:12 am IST Parvinder Chawla was in school when the first symptoms...

As conventions begin, where is the u. S. Economy?

In late August of 2008, just as delegates were coming together for their political-party conventions, the U.S. economy w...

Say yes to the dress bride lost 7st with 'little change'

Say Yes To The Dress UK helps women on their journey to find their perfect wedding dress. These three women lost their u...

Top