Science News

New Offensive Weapon for the Army - Bad Smells

The Army could have a new "offensive" weapon in their arsenal before long, one that really stinks! US Department of Defense officials have asked researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia to create a universally offensive odour that can be used by the military for, among other things, crowd control. The non-lethal "odour bomb" is said to smell like rotting garbage, human waste and burning hair. Tests show the putrid odours "are potent in making people want to flee in disgust". The odours also cause shallow breathing, increased heart rate and can lead to nausea, it adds. According to one of the researchers, Pamela Dalton, "People really hated these odours".

13th Jan 2002