Last week, Major Lazer and La Roux joined forces to release their “Lazerproof” mixtape, a mash-up of tracks from their respective 2009 debut albums. The title ” is a take on La Roux’s hit single, “Bullet Proof,” and in addition to providing a sweet 50 minutes of electro, dub and hip-hop goodness, it also raises the question: “Hey, can something really be laser proofed?”
The U.S. Air Force thinks so, which is why it put out a 2008 request for project proposals to protect future soldiers and weapons against the looming proliferation of laser weapons. The proposal called for the following:
Laser Eye Protection (LEP) Technology:
This technology has actually been available since 1999. Essentially, pilots wear protective goggles treated with a special dye to protect against near lasers. Lasers, remember, are just Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. These visors protect aircrews from laser hazards associated with their own infrared-based targeting systems, as well as hostile lasers. Continue reading
