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Pentagon Working on "Human Fear" Weapons

An anonymous reader writes "Animals use pheromones to attract each other for sex, and warn each other of danger. Now, Wired reports, military researchers are working to harness the 'human fear' pheromone to create a scent of terror. The pheromone could lead to smell-based terrorist sensors, and new weapons that rely on 'contagious' stress."

7 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. The Pentagon by Smordnys+s'regrepsA · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Turning your "War on Terror" into the "War of Terror," since 2008.

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    Just -1, Troll talking to another.
  2. Bio warfare? by Fluffy_Kitten · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Does that not count as biological warfare?

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  3. terra! by Lord+Ender · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The pheromone could lead to smell-based terrorist sensors, and new weapons that rely on 'contagious' stress."
    Awesome. Now people who are afraid of flying will have the added benefit of getting cavity-searched as a result of their fear.
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  4. Fear Eh? by mixmatch · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You mean a squad of guys busting into your house with sub-machine guns doesn't cause this effect?

    1. Re:Fear Eh? by sm62704 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They rated you funny, and it was, but you should have been rated insightful. I just recounted an episode last summer in the next to latest journal about how I, a hazel eyed gray haired geezer had my civil rights violated by the local police, FBI and DEA.

      As I was talking to the FBI gay, er "guy" before he searched me (putting his hands on my balls, why can't they have female cops search men? UGH!), he asked why I seemed so nervous. I went from nervous to incredible, thinking "WTF is this dumbass smoking?"

      "WHAT?? Because half a dozen big armed men just accosted me!" I replied. I didn't add "You stupid fucking authoritarian dumbass cocksucker!" as I would have liked to.

      Actually I wasn't scared at all, but I was mad as hell. What I was afraid of was that they'd piss me off enough that I'd do something stupid. Like slap one of them upside the head with a hooker.

      Dumb fucking cops. Nothing in my life has made me less respectful of police officers. They're called the D.I.R.T. team and the name fits the dirty bastards, all of whom IMO belong in a prison or somewhere worse.

      Now I understand why all the rap songs are so disrespectful of the police. I mean, I'm a white old guy, imagine being a black young guy.

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  5. Why Fear? by TheLazySci-FiAuthor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why don't they make a "love" weapon instead.

    After all, I thought the US was supposed to have a reputation for turning enemies into friends.

  6. Re:Irony by drooling-dog · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Who said this is to be used on "our" enemies?

    It'll be used on ourselves, to make us more eager to accept the enemies that are provided for us, and more desperate for protection from them.