Blow flies can be used to detect use of chemical weapons, other pollutants

Phys.org  March 24, 2022 Blow flies sample the environment as they search for water and food sources and can be trapped from kilometers away using baited traps. Researchers at Purdue University exposed three species of blow flies to the chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants dimethyl methylphosphonate and diethyl phosphoramidate as well as the pesticide dichlorvos, followed by treatment-dependent temperature and humidity conditions. At intervals within a 14-day postexposure period the fly guts were extracted and analyzed. They found that the amount of CWA simulant in fly guts decreased with time following exposure but were detectable 14 days following exposure, giving […]

Nanomaterial fabric destroys nerve agents in battlefield-relevant conditions

Phys.org  January 8, 2020 A team of researchers in the US (Northwestern University, US Army – Aberdeen) has developed a generalizable and scalable approach for integrating MOFs and non-volatile polymeric bases onto textile fibers for nerve agent hydrolysis. The composite material showed similar reactivity under ambient conditions compared to the powder material in aqueous alkaline solution. This represents a critical step toward a unified strategy for nerve agent hydrolysis in practical settings, which can significantly reduce the dimensions of filters and increase the efficiency of protective suits. The material could be integrated into protective suits and face masks for use […]