It’s always shocking when a new technology is found to have a secondary use to its original, intended purpose. Some cancer researchers will likely be particularly surprised that their work might be about to find its way into battlefield arsenals or police patrol cars.
Most cancer treatments are pretty simple in theory: they seek cancerous cells and kill them before they have time to spread. NewScientist.com reports that a technique thought to be a promising cancer treatment is now being investigated as the basis for a Taser-esque weapon that stuns for longer periods, using short, nanosecond-long pulses of extreme voltage.
Doctors and scientists already use microsecond electric pulses to punch temporary holes in cell membranes, as a way to deliver genes or drugs into cells. New research shows that the pulses could be used to directly kill cells themselves, which has potential application as a cancer treatment.
Researchers at Old Dominion University in Virginia are responsible for much of the nanosecond pulse research to date, and found that the short-pulse simulations seem to work pretty well at zapping muscle function, and some believe that this could eventually result in technology that could make muscles non-functional for a longer duration than current Taser-style devices.
A more effective Taser may sound terrifying to some, in light of the various news reports questioning the safety of current stun guns. However, a device that could produce longer periods of incapacitation in the target could potentially reduce harm for those who are blasted.
A casual scan of news reports makes it look like several reports of Taser-related death or injury seem to involve police hitting a person multiple times. A weapon that can keep reliably take a person down and keep them immobilized with just one jolt could actually keep everyone a little bit safer.
Regardless, human testing of this possible new stun technology has yet to begin, the line-up to be the first test subject is not expected to be a long one.
Taser image by Junglecat.
