Could Synthetic Slime Be New Warship Defence Shield?
posted by Paul Fiddian | 30.01.2017
Modified bacteria are the building blocks of a new 'wonder material', inspired by nature, with multiple warfighter protection applications.
Scientists and engineers working for the US Navy have created a synthetic ‘slime’ that could help protect warships in the future.
Already dubbed a ‘wonder material’, the artificial slime replicates the substance naturally emitted by the elusive Pacific hagfish as a defence mechanism.
Known also as slime eels, Pacific hagfish are early fish forms that can live thousands of feet beneath the waves. Featuring long, eel-like bodies and loose skin, they’re unique in the animal kingdom, having skulls but no vertebral columns. Essentially, Pacific hagfish can’t see but their noses help them find worms and carrion to feed on. On being attacked, their response is a slimy substance that disables oncoming predators and permits escape. That same process could, in military terms, have a viable fleet protection role amongst its many other foreseen uses.
https://www.copybook.com/news/could-synthetic-slime-be-new-warship-defence-shield
