They're soliciting proposals for biodegradable bullets "loaded with specialized seeds to grow environmentally beneficial plants that eliminate ammunition debris and contaminants.
"Such materials best suited for these bullets could include the same biodegradable plasticsused to make water bottles or plastic containers. Or it could be some other material altogether.
According to the request for proposal, the US Army Corps of Engineers' Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory has already developed and tested seeds that can be embedded into a biodegradable composite. They've been bioengineered to germinate only after they've been in the ground for several months.
Apparently the DOD also wants this technology to extend to grenades and thank shells. as well.
This is one of those stories that kind of makes my brain stutter.
On the one hand planting vegetation to remove soil contaminants and feed the wildlife seems like a great idea. On the other hand it kinds of seems like the technological advancement is a little off target.
How about instead of planting a rain forest while blowing people to shit, we instead focus on nonlethal methods for incapacitating our enemies?
Finding a way to temporarily stun or immobilize an enemy combatant while leaving them alive seems far more humane and beneficial to the planet than planting saplings in a pool of their blood.
But hey, that's just me.
Source http://ift.tt/2iTaqjk
