ATMs to Spray Hot Foam at Thieves in Idea Inspired by Bombardier Beetle
Posted on May 10, 2014
ETH researchers have developed self-defending anti-vandalism surfaces. These surfaces could lead to ATMs that spray thieves and vandals with a hot foam. The concept was inspired by the bombardier beetle, which is capable of releasing a caustic spray at predators, such as ants and frogs. The beetle produces the spray by combining two stored chemicals. The chemicals are mixed in the beetle's abdomen when it feels threatened and released with an explosive popping noise.
The beetle inspired the researchers to develop a special film that triggers an intense reaction when it is destroyed. The self-defending surface is composed of several sandwich-like layers of plastic. If the surface is damaged, hot foam is sprayed in the face of the attacker.
Wendelin Jan Stark, a professor from the ETH Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, says in a statement, "This could be used anywhere you find things that shouldn't be touched."
The researchers explain how the plastic is made in a release. Here is a video of a bombardier beetle using its unique defensive strategy to ward off ants:
A research paper on the self-defending film was published here in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A.
- Kermitops: Amphibian Ancestor Named After Kermit the Frog
- Fossil of Giant Freshwater Turtle Discovered
- Hubble Observes Stormy Weather on Jupiter
- Australian Spider Named After Marvel's Venom
- NASA's JWST Captures New Views of NGC 604