Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Pentagon Working on "Human Fear" Weapons

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the smells-like-... dept.

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."

15 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. What could happen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I fear it might not work.

    1. Re:What could happen by spun · · Score: 5, Informative

      I think you may be right. The vomeronasal organ is vestigial or nonexistant in humans, and there don't appear to be any connections between even vestigial vomeronasal organs and the brain.

      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    2. Re:What could happen by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Informative

      actually fear weapons are quite effective...

      They did some testing and a army team facing a fight when told the enemy all has body armor piercing ammunition the dynamics of the team changed drastically and started to show signs of fear which would reduce their effectiveness as they would be much more cautious in their attack.

      Fear weapons have been used forever, they are called spreading rumors or false information that keeps your enemy at bay. The Russians did it to the United states for nearly 50 years in the cold war. They made it look and sound like they had a crapload more weapons and bigger meaner ones than they really did. It scared the shit out of the USA to the point where we even had the populace shaking in their boots and afraid of the USSR.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  2. women by EZReady · · Score: 5, Funny

    female pheromones would work for most slashdotters

    --
    EZReady
  3. The Pentagon by Smordnys+s'regrepsA · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    --
    Just -1, Troll talking to another.
  4. Irony by traindirector · · Score: 5, Funny

    You'd almost think that after declaring a war on terror an organization wouldn't use terror against enemies in the most literal way possible...

    1. 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.

  5. Amongst our weapons by gardyloo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and pheromones...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise....

  6. Bio warfare? by Fluffy_Kitten · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Does that not count as biological warfare?

    --
    People who have no sig are cool
    1. Re:Bio warfare? by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 5, Informative

      No, since the pheromones are not alive.

      It does count as chemical warfare, though.

      --

      Technoli
  7. 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.
    --
    A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
  8. Too unreliable by Z00L00K · · Score: 5, Interesting
    You must consider that there has to be many reasons for people to send out stress pheromones, late for work, fear of flying, claustrophobia etc.

    And there is no reason that a suicide bomber actually is afraid - that phase may have passed over months ago and the person may have actually come to terms with his/her destiny.

    So someone is barking up the wrong tree again...

    --
    If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
  9. 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?

  10. Fear is not always a bad thing... by LiquidMind · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A weapon that exploits fear 'scents' could backfire just as easily. Traditionally, fear will cause someone to flee or at the very least become nervous and therefore have his/her decision-making skills crippled. But for some, fear is a great motivator. If i'm gonna get into a fight and feel extra fearful because of this exploit, i might come back twice as hard to overcome whatever is in my way.

    just a thought....

    --
    This sig contains repetition and redundancy.
  11. Re:Why Fear? by antime · · Score: 5, Informative

    Why don't they make a "love" weapon instead.
    Already tried, didn't work out too good.