Many of the casualties incurred by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 15 years stemmed from IED attacks on their vehicles.
Aviation fuel and gasoline powering military planes and vehicles could be infused with an additive that will cut the risk or severity of secondary explosions, including those caused by IED attacks.
Internationally, researchers have been investigating means of limiting misting of jet fuel after a collision since 1977, when two Boeing 747s crashed on the ground in Tenerife.
"The accident, being on the ground, you might think would be survivable," she said. "But 582 people were killed and only 61 survived. Why? Because the impact produced a mist of the fuel and that fine mist floated [and then ignited]."