Magnets In Helmets Could Better Protect Football Players
- 10 years ago
Concussions and brain diseases are an ongoing issue for football players, even after they retire. Neuroscientists believe magnets could hold the key to better protection on the field.
Head injuries and degenerative brain diseases have become commonplace in football. Neuroscientists are looking for new ways to help prevent these from occurring.
One new method for prevention being researched involves magnets.
Currently, helmets worn by football players are meant to cushion hits while they're happening, instead of before.
If magnets were placed in helmets, they would help deflect the blows.
The most powerful commercially available magnets are made from neodymium. A one-pound magnet is able to repel 300 pounds of force.
Two neodymium magnets are capable of repelling nearly 100 pounds of force when placed a mere one-fourth of an inch each other.
Scientists believe the risk of concussions could be reduced by almost 80 percent through this method.
It's estimated it would cost $100 to add magnets to one helmet, which is a small price to pay for safety when around 60 percent of football concussions are caused by head-to-head hits.
Before these magnetized helmets can be tried on football players, they will first be tested on crash-test dummies.
Head injuries and degenerative brain diseases have become commonplace in football. Neuroscientists are looking for new ways to help prevent these from occurring.
One new method for prevention being researched involves magnets.
Currently, helmets worn by football players are meant to cushion hits while they're happening, instead of before.
If magnets were placed in helmets, they would help deflect the blows.
The most powerful commercially available magnets are made from neodymium. A one-pound magnet is able to repel 300 pounds of force.
Two neodymium magnets are capable of repelling nearly 100 pounds of force when placed a mere one-fourth of an inch each other.
Scientists believe the risk of concussions could be reduced by almost 80 percent through this method.
It's estimated it would cost $100 to add magnets to one helmet, which is a small price to pay for safety when around 60 percent of football concussions are caused by head-to-head hits.
Before these magnetized helmets can be tried on football players, they will first be tested on crash-test dummies.