The US military is funding development of a weapon that delivers a bout of excruciating pain from up to 2 kilometres away. Intended for use against rioters, it is meant to leave victims unharmed. But pain researchers are furious that work aimed at controlling pain has been used to develop a weapon. And they fear that the technology will be used for torture.
"I am deeply concerned about the ethical aspects of this research," says Andrew Rice, a consultant in pain medicine at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, UK. "Even if the use of temporary severe pain can be justified as a restraining measure, which I do not believe it can, the long-term physical and psychological effects are unknown."
The research came to light in documents unearthed by the Sunshine Project, an organisation based in Texas and in Hamburg, Germany, that exposes biological weapons research. The papers were released under the US's Freedom of Information Act.
One document, a research contract between the Office of Naval Research and the University of Florida in Gainesville, US, is entitled "Sensory consequences of electromagnetic pulses emitted by laser induced plasmas".
It concerns so-called Pulsed Energy Projectiles (PEPs), which fire a laser pulse that generates a burst of expanding plasma when it hits something solid, like a person (New Scientist print edition, 12 October 2002). The weapon, destined for use in 2007, could literally knock rioters off their feet.
Pain trigger
According to a 2003 review of non-lethal weapons by the US Naval Studies Board, which advises the navy and marine corps, PEPs produced "pain and temporary paralysis" in tests on animals. This appears to be the result of an electromagnetic pulse produced by the expanding plasma which triggers impulses in nerve cells.
The new study, which runs until July and will be carried out with researchers at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, aims to optimise this effect. The idea is to work out how to generate a pulse which triggers pain neurons without damaging tissue.
The contract, heavily censored before release, asks researchers to look for "optimal pulse parameters to evoke peak nociceptor activation" - in other words, cause the maximum pain possible. Studies on cells grown in the lab will identify how much pain can be inflicted on someone before causing injury or death.
Long-term risk
New Scientist contacted two researchers working on the project. Martin Richardson, a laser expert at the University of Central Florida, US, refused to comment. Brian Cooper, an expert in dental pain at the University of Florida, distanced himself from the work, saying "I don't have anything interesting to convey. I was just providing some background for the group." His name appears on a public list of the university's research projects next to the $500,000-plus grant.
John Wood of University College London, UK, an expert in how the brain perceives pain, says the researchers involved in the project should face censure. "It could be used for torture," he says, "the [researchers] must be aware of this."
Amanda Williams, a clinical psychologist at University College London, fears that victims risk long-term harm. "Persistent pain can result from a range of supposedly non-destructive stimuli which nevertheless change the functioning of the nervous system," she says. She is concerned that studies of cultured cells will fall short of demonstrating a safe level for a plasma burst. "They cannot tell us about the pain and psychological consequences of such a painful experience."
If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.
Have your say
I don't see any problem with this kind of system. When a compound is under attack by a mob, the only current options are surrender and the use of lethal force. Having a scale of various levels of force available to our armed forces seems prudent.
I would rather see rioters hit with this than killed with rifle shots.
Pain weapons are already in use in psychological warfare by the us airforce for many years never let the government find out about things you are doing is best if it is a cure or weapon anything for that matter should be hidden from the government juse as they do to us
I'm never more agitated than by research to develop weapons that cause involuntary responses due to pain.There was once developed a firearm.the good news was it basically hits one target at a time there,However when france were developing sonic crowd control weapons research,and now the US PEP in this article it is chilling to think we are developing another tool of involuntary response control over masses which inevitably heads toward the hands of maniacs and criminals.Having begun in the interests of public order /civil obedience we are creating new ways to torture innocents by the mismanagement of technology,or the disposal of old weaponary,(such as these become)or the misplaced judgement of who windes up in charge of such tools.Personally I cannot condone the idea .we may as well shoot the troublemakers and accept the wrongdoing in that ,as put out weapons that can render a crowd of PEOPLE helpless from a source that remains distant and unseen. Can you picture shopping in a mall amongst hundreds of people and suddenly experiencing excruciating pain/collapse and all around you police officers , fireman, security people,shoppers, children,maintenance persons,all writhing alongside;helpless.(a dentist drilling your teeth)This must STOP!
I agree. this is control of the masses people who control something like this cant be taken down. imagine if the controler or such a weapon goes nuts? possibly increases the output.... that is un needed death on our hands
All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.
If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please contact technical support.