Team creates protein-based material that can stop supersonic impactsA University of Kent team, led by Professors Ben Goult and Jen Hiscock, has created and patented a new shock-absorbing material that could revolutionize both the defense and planetary science sectors.This novel protein-based family of materials, named TSAM (Talin Shock Absorbing Materials), represents the first known example of a SynBio (or synthetic biology) material capable of absorbing supersonic projectile impacts.The team went on to demonstrate the real-world application of TSAMs, subjecting this hydrogel material to 1.5 km/s supersonic impacts—a faster velocity than particles in space impact both natural and man-made objects (typically > 1 km/s) and muzzle velocities from firearms—which commonly fall between 0.4–1.0 km/s.This makes the incorporation of TSAMs into new armor designs a potential alternative to these traditional technologies, providing a lighter, longer-lasting armor that also protects the wearer against a wider range of injuries including those caused by shock.In addition, the ability of TSAMs to both capture and preserve projectiles post-impact makes it applicable within the aerospace sector, where there is a need for energy dissipating materials to enable the effective collection of space debris, space dust and micrometeoroids for further scientific study."