If you were wearing face paint that scientists recently developed for the Department of Defense, you would totally let me put a cigarette out on your face. But smoking is bad, so never mind. Hot poker? The face paint was developed by a team of researchers from the University of Southern Mississippi, who were tasked with helping soldiers bear the brunt of heat waves shot off from bomb blasts.
Heat-resistant paint for equipment with high operating temperatures, such as boilers, fans and ovens, has existed for some time, but the new substance is also waterproof, non-irritating, easy to apply – and it repels insects.
Hear that flame-throwing mosquitoes? You are no match for this paint!
The team didn’t use the traditional wax base for the paint (that stuff will melt and stick to skin); instead, they worked with silicon, which reflects heat. Also according to DoD regulations, all military face paint – OK, they call it camouflage paint, which I guess is probably more proper – is supposed to contain the bug repellent Deet. Problem there is that Deet is really flammable too, but the researchers have also figured out a way to water it down so it doesn’t, you know, burn your face off. Again from the Beeb:
The lead researcher, Robert Lochhead, said the paint could also be used for fire-proof clothes, tents, and even tanks, and the team was working on a colourless version for firefighters.
In summary, we should just paint the planet in this stuff and never have to worry about fire again.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
