Scientists Turn T-Shirts Into Body Armor 213
separsons writes "Scientists at the University of South Carolina recently transformed ordinary T-shirts into bulletproof armor. By splicing cotton with boron, the third hardest material on the planet, scientists created a shirt that was super elastic but also strong enough to deflect bullets. Xiaodong Li, lead researcher on the project, says the same tech may eventually be used to create lightweight, fuel-efficient cars and aircrafts."
Unforeseen consequences (Score:5, Funny)
+5 T-Shirt of Nerding (Score:5, Funny)
Brings my AC to 15!
My parents visited University of South Carolina (Score:5, Funny)
Re:How elastic? (Score:5, Funny)
Two inches of penetration... Sounds like a job for me!
Nobody doesn't like... (Score:5, Funny)
This shirt brought to you by... (Score:3, Funny)
Molten Boron!
Re:+5 T-Shirt of Nerding (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Unforeseen consequences (Score:2, Funny)
Lead researcher (Score:4, Funny)
Xiaodong Li, lead researcher on the project...
They still make bullets out of lead?
The second hardest known substance (Score:2, Funny)
Is my wife's pot roast. If I can ever figure out how she converts an entire roast into carbon nanotubes we're gonna be rich!
Mithril (Score:1, Funny)
They've invented mithril!
Re:How elastic? (Score:5, Funny)
Actually the elasticity of these things change with the among of force applied. When you try to punch these things hard (just like a bullet does) they seem to rigid. But when you try to handle them with less force, like try to slowly pull or push them (just like when you try to wear them), they seem to be really elastic.
So your question should be rephrased as how elastic it is, when a bullet strikes it? Is is strong enough to distribute the force of the bullet through out your torso and not cause a serious dent?
Good... the slow blade penetrates the shield...
Re:How elastic? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Silk was used in a simlar way (Score:1, Funny)
Love the silk shirt, it looks faaaaablous hun! -- Atilla the Interior Decorator
How Many Washes? (Score:3, Funny)
shirt logo (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Silk was used in a simlar way (Score:4, Funny)
The Huns wore silk to protect themselves in battle. There were no bullets back then, just arrows and blades. While the arrows could still penetrate the flesh, they often did not cut through the silk which made it easier to remove the arrows and stem the bleeding. BTW, like tee-shirts, silk is imprintable -- "We're on the run, we're lotta fun, we are the Huns!"
Yes, that's actually true! They also wore silk scarves to prevent neck chops, because "there can be only Huns!"
Re:How elastic? (Score:4, Funny)
My girlfriend asked me to give her 3 inches and make it hurt, so I put it in 3 times then punched her in the back of the head :(
Re:+5 T-Shirt of Nerding (Score:2, Funny)
yes, but this is balanced somewhat by an addition -5 to charisma.