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Paper-thin super material stops flying bullets[^]
Quote:
The type of material, called a structured polymer composite, can actually self-assemble into alternating glassy and rubbery layers. When performing ballistic tests on the material at MIT's Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, those 20-nanometer-thick layers were able to stop a 9-millimeter bullet and seal the entryway behind it, according to a Rice University article.
Now that's damn cool! Go Science!
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein
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That does seem ironic. But it stopped the bullet from going any further, encased the bullet and also sealed the entry "wound", as it were.
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein
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But at that thickness, it seems odd the bullet could have both been stopped by and penetrated the material. 
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20mm == 0.78 inches (about 3/4 inches). So, no it doesn't surprise me that it could stop and seal a bullet. If you read the rice article linked to by Fox, then you'll read that the material melted which helped stop and seal the bullet.
/edit/
Sorry, misremembered the thickness, should have been 20nm. So, yeah, that is surprising...
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein
modified 15-Nov-12 12:09pm.
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20 nanometers.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
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oops!
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein
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It wasn't 20 mm, it was 20 nm, many orders of magnitude smaller.
Someone else beat me to it 
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Assuming it's true, visualize a stretchy material - but it would have to wrap and seal awfully quickly.
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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"those 20-nanometer-thick layers were able to stop a 9-millimeter bullet and seal the entryway behind it"
The way I read this, the 20nm layers are the self-assembling glassy and rubbery layers, and that the bullets were never fired at a film of 20nm total thickness. Just my interpretation though.
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Putting it that way makes sense. But then without knowing how many layers are needed it's hard to say if it's impressive or not, enough 20 nm layers of anything will stop a bullet eventually. (Besides sealing the hole, that part is more impressive.)
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All I'm thinking of right now is Superman's cape. Cool beans.
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It's probably similar to the sort of work Superman's condom has to do.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
Shed Petition[ ^]
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 Yeah come to think of it that would be a problem?
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Unless he's shooting blanks. 
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Superman, Wonderwoman?[^] (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)
Full-fledged Java/.NET lover, full-fledged PHP hater.
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Now that's just bad, have a 5!
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Missed these 
Full-fledged Java/.NET lover, full-fledged PHP hater.
Full-fledged Google/Microsoft lover, full-fledged Apple hater.
Full-fledged Skype lover, full-fledged YM hater.
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Title from many years ago "Man of Steel/Woman of tissue" based on the subject.
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djj55 wrote:
Title from many years ago "Man of Steel/Woman of
tissue" based on the subject.
Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex, actually. Larry Niven essay.
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Thank you. As I said many years ago (1971). I have a bad memory at best.
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Read Richard's FF costume is what I'm thinking.
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All of their research was involving the 20nm thick materials along with micro-bullets of glass beads. It was from their ability to research at this tiny thickness that led them to be able to produce a hockey puck size piece of material that the 9mm bullets were actually fired at. If you go to this article[^], there is a picture of the clear material with the bullets now embedded within it. It is very cool indeed and the concept of self-healing "skin" doesn't seem to be far away. Don't the T-9000s need that? 
Chris Meech
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In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
posting about Crystal Reports here is like discussing gay marriage on a catholic church’s website.[Nishant Sivakumar]
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May have caught the bullet, but if the energy is not disipated, it will still penetrate, break bones, etc. What would be needed is to spread the energy over a large area so it does not cause large amounts of localized damage. Bullet would still hurt like hell.
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Apparently the energy is absorbed in the multi-layer material and some of it melts and more is deformed. I'm sure you're right though. Even getting shot while wearing a conventional "bullet-proof" vest will often cause bruising if not broken bones.
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein
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