Pentagon develops ultra-pain weapon
The Pentagon is funding development of a Pulsed Energy Projectile (PEP), a laser that generates a burst of expanding plasma when it hits something solid, like a human being, inducing excruciating pain from up to a mile away. The program came to light thanks to a Freedom of Information Act inquiry by the Sunshine Project. The Pentagon is calling it a "non-lethal" weapon for use again rioters. But pain researchers are furious that work aimed at controlling pain has been used to develop a weapon.
"I am deeply concerned about the ethical aspects of this research," says Andrew Rice, a pain consultant at London's Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. "Even if the use of temporary severe pain can be justified as a restraining measure, which I do not believe it can, the long-term physical and psychological effects are unknown."
(New Scientist, March 2)
Recent Updates
10 hours 53 min ago
11 hours 40 min ago
12 hours 31 sec ago
20 hours 53 min ago
20 hours 59 min ago
1 day 17 hours ago
1 day 17 hours ago
2 days 10 hours ago
2 days 11 hours ago
2 days 14 hours ago