Sharks, bugs, and genital injury: author Mary Roach on military research
With respect to defense research, most people think of lethal weaponry like guns and bombs, but researchers at the military development centre, Natick Laboratories, have looked at almost everything else that affects a soldier's life. Their list of considerations includes uniforms, food, and even the weather.
Natick Laboratories is one of many facilities author Mary Roach visited in her exploration of the seemingly mundane aspects of military research.
Yet, Roach discovered that work on subjects like sleep deprivation, protective clothing, and even penis reconstruction can significantly affect a soldier's quality of life in the battlefield and in training.
The problem with Velcro is that it's noisy and you would give away your position.-On why snipers' uniforms do not feature Velcro
On The Current, Roach discusses her new book Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War, which details her findings.
This segment was produced by The Current's Karin Marley