New Material Quickly Destroys Nerve Gas

Mar-19-15 Inspired by biological catalysts, researchers have created a material able to destroy toxic nerve agents under a variety of conditions, including while on the battlefield.

The material, called NU-1000, is built upon the natural enzymes phosphotriesterases, which can deactivate certain types of nerve gas in milliseconds. However, these enzymes are not stable enough for practical use.

To improve upon nature, the team Northwestern University mimicked the enzyme's deactivation mechanism to create the NU-1000 chemical. According to the team, the material is able to degrade the nerve agent somar in minutes, and remains functional in extreme temperatures, in dust storms, or even in water. This makes it an attractive addition to protective suits and masks worn by soldiers and rescue workers, though the material's reaction is still too slow to be effective during an attack.

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[THEVERGE.COM]
[NATURE.COM]

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