Chemist Creates Safer Form of Ammo

[Kadie]

Chemist Creates Safer Form of Ammo

Friday, August 4, 2006


(08-04) 16:07 PDT Los Alamos, N.M. (AP) --


A Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist has come up with a less-toxic explosive that has potential uses in hunting and in military ammunition.

Chemist My Hang Huynh developed a new type of primary explosive, which are the explosives that, for example, ignite the main charges in a bullet or conventional bomb. The lab owns three patents.

Huynh said the new explosive is cleaner, safer and less expensive to produce than traditional lead azide and lead styphnate primary explosives, which have been in use since 1907.

Government officials say the discovery could better protect workers who manufacture ammunition or explosives as well as reduce pollution of land and water near shooting ranges and military bases.

The new primary explosive is made with iron, nitrogen, carbon and oxygen instead of lead. Lead is toxic to humans, and chronic exposure can result in birth defects, miscarriage and learning disabilities.

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/08/04/national/a160735D24.DTL

[Pierre.Suave]

1. Safer?

for who?

[Poll_Blind]

5. Well it's kind of like the old condom argument for safe sex: People...

...are going to keep having sex nomatter how much abstinance is preached so at least make sure there's a condom in their pocket or purse. People are still going to keep needing safe ammunition nomatter how much peace is preached so at least make sure the ammunition they do have is cleaner, and less-harmful to those who, for whatever reason, have to carry or work with it.

  I'm still pissed about the little lead bits on the other side of the gunpowder, though. I'm working to get those replaced with plastic pockets of confetti or, at least, red dye squibs.

PB

[dipsydoodle]

6. He's currently working on making

Thanksgiving safer for turkeys. :rofl:

[dipsydoodle]

2. Well whoopee doo

I'm sure that will make the people who die as a result of use of the munitions feel a whole lot better.

[karlrschneider]

3. Will it reduce the pollution from blood and dead bodies?

:eyes:

[sweetheart]

4. Plowshares

It was invented before.

[longship]

7. Yes, they're called Nerf-bullets

They are propelled not by gun powder, but by rubber bands.
It's part of the new US plan for the upcoming "Civil War" in Iraq.

Oh, and the bombs will be made of marshmallow with "We're sorry" printed on their side.