Pentagon Working on "Human Fear" Weapons

An anonymous reader writes "Animals use pheromones to attract each other for sex, and warn each other of danger. Now, Wired reports, military researchers are working to harness the 'human fear' pheromone to create a scent of terror. The pheromone could lead to smell-based terrorist sensors, and new weapons that rely on 'contagious' stress."

Too unreliable

[Z00L00K]

You must consider that there has to be many reasons for people to send out stress pheromones, late for work, fear of flying, claustrophobia etc.

And there is no reason that a suicide bomber actually is afraid - that phase may have passed over months ago and the person may have actually come to terms with his/her destiny.

So someone is barking up the wrong tree again...

Fear is not always a bad thing...

[LiquidMind]

A weapon that exploits fear 'scents' could backfire just as easily. Traditionally, fear will cause someone to flee or at the very least become nervous and therefore have his/her decision-making skills crippled. But for some, fear is a great motivator. If i'm gonna get into a fight and feel extra fearful because of this exploit, i might come back twice as hard to overcome whatever is in my way.

just a thought....

Re:terra!

[sexybomber]

Yep, and once again, the real terrorists (who are presumably fanatical enough that they're not afraid to do what they're planning to do) will slip through.

Re:What could happen

[fictionpuss]

I fear it might not work.

I fear it's too late..

Surreal

[Deadplant]

So congress is now officially, literally, irrefutably funding terrorism?

Re:What could happen

[Knowbuddy]

I know the original poster was kidding, but ...

Many people think of pheromones as "pop science" or put them in the same category as aether and quintessence and whatnot. But, I can prove to you that pheromones are very real and can do very interesting things. It's simple:

1. Drive to your nearest large zoo, accompanied by a few women.
2. Visit the gorilla area. Try to stand downwind.
3. Ask the women how they are feeling.
4. Profit!

If you don't have access to women who will get into your car, go to the zoo by yourself and talk to random female passers-by. Or, find a guy that you can actually talk to, and have him talk to the women for you.

Point being, a large number of the women will say that they feel uneasy or uncomfortable. Check their arm- and neck-hair: most of the women, and a large number of the men, will go pilo (fine hair stands up), maybe without even realizing it.

Smell the air. Does it smell a little like sweat? Maybe like a gym locker room?

There is a biological response in humans to the musk produced by gorillas. Most people might not even realize they're smelling the musk, as it's very easy to mistake for the sweaty smell of a large human crowd. Oddly enough, the reaction is generally noticeable for gorillas, but not nearly so for other large apes such as orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos, etc.

(If you happen to live in the Central Florida area, the gorilla exhibit at Disney's Animal Kingdom is perfect for this. There's a section that is often downwind of the gorillas and is surrounded by two high walls, and you have no choice but to walk through it.)

Seriously. Next time you're at the zoo, check it out. No matter how smart you are, sometimes your genetics get the better of you.

What's actually happening is...

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

This is, of course, pure BS. It's just psyops. The goal is to make press releases about all kinds of non-existent technological advances in an attempt to discourage certain people from even trying to board aircraft.

Miranda/Serenity

[phrostie]

am i the only one who see's a parallel with Josh Weldon's Miranda from the Movie Serenity?

this is just messed up

Re:What could happen

[Muhammar]

Our military has a long tradition of funding crackpots and loonies that do secret work on blood-curdling woodoo, see "The men who stare at goats" from Jon Ronson and "Imaginary Weapons" from Sharon Weinberger. Even the Scientology Church could learn new "spiritual tech" from our military experts.

The idea of activating fear circuits by chemicals sounds like a pure moonshine - but there is no need for it because the military has already the equipment to project a loud shrill interference-laden high-pitch sound that makes one to run and feel like loading the pants at the same time (directionally projected over a half-mile distance). There are radar-like dishes to send microwave frequencies causing intense burning skin sensation through clothes. There are super-potent bad-trip producing hallucinogens and odors that make one puke his guts out. Even the good old tear gas can make enormous impact when the pavement is first sprayed with a thin film of lube slime...

PTSD

[Nezer]

As someone who is now in the process of recovering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder this, literally, scares the shit out of me.

It is simply stunning that someone can think this is a good idea. Fear is one of the strongest and most primal of all human emotions. Use of such a weapon (if it can even be developed) would be considered flat-out torture in my book. Anyone that has lived through the hell that is PTSD where your in a constant and uncontrollable state of fear would probably agree.

I think it's safe to say that such a weapon would inflict some sort of trauma on the victims. Research suggests that 25% of the population will suffer from PTSD when exposed to a traumatic event (sorry I can't recall where I read this so it could be BS). A weapon that has the potential to leave 25% of victims exposed to this sort of delayed hell is incredibly irresponsible. PTSD can lie latent for many, many years (in my case it's been nearly my whole life).

Just to reiterate, this is a really fucking terrible idea. Don't fuck with fear...

Furthermore, scared people do some crazy shit. This is a very good and very powerful survival mechanism.