So, let’s take this invention story out of hiding and start with the basics! Using camouflage is a necessity for military personnel.  It’s used as protection to hide a soldier and their equipment from the enemy.

The initial idea for this invention spans back to the beginning of human civilization; in fact, camouflage predates humans entirely! It comes from the natural adaptions that allow animals to blend in with their environment.

However, in the past 100 years, camouflage has played a crucial role in military operations far and wide across the globe.

Military camouflage became mainstream when a hunting enthusiast by the name of Jim Crumley used a Magic Marker to draw vertical tree-trunk lines on a few pairs of tie-dyed coats and pants in the late 1970s. A few decades later, his patented “Trebark” design went from being featured in small ads in Bowhunter magazine to appearing in nearly every major outdoors catalog in the country.

To begin, the most basic camouflage is worn by soldiers while in action. This form of camouflage requires two components: color and pattern. These two factors play a role in helping to conceal the soldier.

Furthermore, there isn’t a set combination of color and patterns because they are dependent upon the surrounding environment. For instance, in jungle warfare, camouflage is usually green and brown in order to match the foliage and the dirt. While, on the other hand, soldiers wear an array of tan colors while on desert assignments.  For those soldiers in a snowy climate, white and grays are issued. In order to complete the hiding in plain sight look, soldiers will also paint their faces to match the camouflage material.

Although camouflage is predominately geared toward clothing, as early as World War II, military officials used netting, foliage and smoke in order to conceal airports, oil tankers and factories from aerial detection.

Now, high-tech vinyl-adhesive photographs can conceal entire bridges; not to mention, temporary camouflage can be painted on military tanks. A contractor by the name of AAE has patented a type of fabric that helps prevent infrared radar from detecting body heat and has called it the “stealth poncho.”

Camouflage comes in all shapes and sizes and this invention continues to grow and better conceal our armed forces.

Just as our soldiers protect and serve our country day in and day out, the invention of camouflage continues to help protect our soldiers in active duty.

Copyright Davison 2014

Sources:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/military-camouflage1.htm

http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1906083,00.html

Images:

http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4dff4095ccd1d5fb0b0e0000-480/marines-camoflage.jpg

The post Learn How This Invention is Hiding in Plain Sight appeared first on Davison.

The latest military prototype is a pizza that can stay on the shelf for up to three years and still remain safe and edible.

For a while now, soldiers have been requesting pizza for their field rations. These field rations, otherwise known as meals ready to eat (MREs), replaced canned food in 1981 for soldiers in zones where a field kitchen could not be set up.

Researchers worked to combat this problem and find a better way to feed their soldiers. And now, the final ingredients for a pizza recipe that doesn’t require any freezing or refrigeration may soon be completed at a U.S. military lab in Massachusetts.

How on earth can it be possible that a pizza that doesn’t need to be frozen or refrigerated can last up to three years on the shelf and still be edible?

Considering that pizza has become one of the most requested items that soldiers would like to see in their rations, researchers spent nearly two years developing the recipe in a large commercial kitchen.

Who knew that moisture in tomato sauce, cheese and toppings could be the bane of the scientists’ efforts? Well, considering that these pizza components migrated into the dough and, over time, resulted in soggy pizza and the perfect breeding ground for mold and disease-causing bacteria to grow, scientists had to rework the recipe.

Next, the researchers were tasked with finding a solution to this problem. This included using ingredients called humectants-sugar, salt and syrups. These ingredients would all bind to water and keep it from getting to the dough. But, that alone wouldn’t help keep the pizza fresh for three years at 80 degrees.

Just like any invention, the pizza needed to be tweaked to be better, so scientists played around with the acidity of the sauce, cheese and dough to make it harder for oxygen and bacteria to thrive. Additionally, they also added iron filling to the package, in order to absorb any air that remained in the pouch.

So, what’s the verdict on the taste of the latest military invention? Well, most soldiers haven’t tried the pizza, because it is still in the development stages. However, Jill Bates, who runs the lab, says that she was happy after tasting the latest prototype batch of pepperoni pizza. In her description, she says that it’s reminiscent of a pan pizza. The crust is a little moist, but not super-crispy.

By the way that things are going, it seems like pizza will be on the MRE menu soon enough!

Copyright Davison 2014

Sources:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/14/holy-grail-military-meals-nears-pizza-that-lasts-up-to-three-years/

http://www.buzzfeed.com/tomphillips/the-us-military-is-developing-high-tech-pizza-that-lasts-for

Images:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/02/16/military-three-year-old-pizza-research/

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