National Science Foundation News | Concussion-proof Helmets #news #science #concussion @NSFScience | Uploaded September 2024 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
In the world of contact sports concussions can be common, and repeated head impacts can have devastating long-term neurological consequences. But researchers are working on new kinds of helmets that may lessen the impact in the U.S. National Science Foundation’s “Discovery Files”.
Every year 15% of high school athletes are affected by concussions according to the CDC. These impacts can have severe long-term effects such as Chronic traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE, a degenerative brain disorder that is known to create behavioral and mood problems and can result in dementia.
NSF-Supported researchers at Stanford University in association with Savior Brain Inc. are working to create the next generation of head protection. Taking advantage of recent engineering advancements in the creation of liquid shock absorbers, the researchers were able to model a helmet that dramatically reduced the severity of impacts to the head by a third.
The researchers’ helmet with 21 liquid shock absorbers was demonstrated against an impact model made to replicate equipment used in the NFL’s Helmet test impact protocol. Striking the helmet in 6 specific locations, the model tested concussive and subconcussive impacts against the open-source models of 4 other popular helmets.
The results show a promising ability of liquid shock absorbers to dramatically change the impact performance in football helmets. This could provide a considerable reduction in brain injuries pointing towards a safer future for athletes at all levels of play.
In the world of contact sports concussions can be common, and repeated head impacts can have devastating long-term neurological consequences. But researchers are working on new kinds of helmets that may lessen the impact in the U.S. National Science Foundation’s “Discovery Files”.
Every year 15% of high school athletes are affected by concussions according to the CDC. These impacts can have severe long-term effects such as Chronic traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE, a degenerative brain disorder that is known to create behavioral and mood problems and can result in dementia.
NSF-Supported researchers at Stanford University in association with Savior Brain Inc. are working to create the next generation of head protection. Taking advantage of recent engineering advancements in the creation of liquid shock absorbers, the researchers were able to model a helmet that dramatically reduced the severity of impacts to the head by a third.
The researchers’ helmet with 21 liquid shock absorbers was demonstrated against an impact model made to replicate equipment used in the NFL’s Helmet test impact protocol. Striking the helmet in 6 specific locations, the model tested concussive and subconcussive impacts against the open-source models of 4 other popular helmets.
The results show a promising ability of liquid shock absorbers to dramatically change the impact performance in football helmets. This could provide a considerable reduction in brain injuries pointing towards a safer future for athletes at all levels of play.
![Nobel Prize [microRNA] #shorts #science #nobelprize](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tz5QpLfPPWU/hqdefault.jpg "Nobel Prize [microRNA] #shorts #science #nobelprize
Two scientists won the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for their discovery of microRNA, tiny bits of genetic material that serve as on and off switches inside cells that help control what the cells do and when they do it.")
