Chemical warfare is a real threat. Military scientists have developed a paint which will now literally suck up the fallout from chemical attacks to protect soldiers.

The Engineer reports that the UK-based Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has been working with paint company AkzoNobel to create such a substance. It is comprised of two parts, a top coat which has silica gel that can absorb chemicals like nerve gas, is painted onto a subtly sticky base coat, not dissimilar to the adhesive part of a Post-It.

The base coat is sticky to hold the top coat in place but is weak enough so that it can be a chemical sucking layer. Such a paint could coat vehicles and soldiers if there are any events of a major chemical attack. In this case, prevention is really better than cure.

The next step is to create a paint that neutralizes the chemicals. [The Engineer via Technology Review]