Prism Magazine Lists '25 Ways to Fight Terrorism'

2/5/2002

From: Jo Ann Tooley of the American Society for Engineering Education, 202-331-3536; e-mail: j.tooley@asee.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Did you know that airports may soon use enhanced X-ray machines that can scan cargo-holds of luggage in less than an hour? Or that there's a new "smart" fence in the works that can detect a fence-climber at an airport or army base and alert the authorities? On September 11, unthinkable acts of terrorism stopped America in its tracks. But in the five months following this harrowing tragedy, engineers have been waging a silent war in university research labs throughout the country, developing products like these to fight terrorism in every form.

Prism magazine, the award-winning monthly publication of the American Society for Engineering Education, has scoured U.S. engineering schools and compiled an exclusive list of 25 of the most exciting and promising anti-terrorist innovations underway in their labs.

In "25 Ways to Fight Terrorism," reporters and editors can find everything from robots that "sniff out" car bombs and open anthrax-infused mail to gels that heal battle wounds and stop jet engine fires from spreading, developments that may very well prove to be the next line of defense against terrorism. Prism reports on technologies ready to hit the shelves in the not-so-distant future, such as Superman-like X-ray vision that could allow officers to find concealed weapons in a vehicle or spot hostages inside a building.

Developments that would greatly improve conditions for American troops in a ground war are on the horizon, including a microphone the size of a pinhead that could be spread across a battlefield or city to detect movements of enemy soldiers. The Army has funded research on a porous bandage the size of a business card that would swell to 10 times its original size, making the use of an often nerve damaging tourniquet obsolete.

Safeguarding the nation is not a new mission for engineers. In times of crisis, universities have always rushed to the country's aid, says Ilene Busch-Vishniac, the dean of engineering at Johns Hopkins University. "We also have served by identifying key scientific and technical obstacles that could be turning points in wars and working to overcome those barriers," she notes.

Engineers, who by their very nature combine science and technology to solve problems, are at the forefront of the war against terrorism, utilizing their resources and knowledge to ensure national security.

For the full story, visit the media Web page at www.asee.org/media