ATM anti-theft by acid

The solution invented by ETH Zurich University in Switzerland will not cause horrifying wounds to crooks like ordinary acid, but will be enough to discourage thieves.

The chemical mixture, synthesized by Zurich ETH University, will be used to protect money in transit or money stored in ATMs. This chemical will create a hot foam and is based on the principle of a small orange / black bug called "gunner bug".

Gunners are able to defend themselves by shooting a chemical with extremely high temperatures. This species has two separate chambers in the abdomen, a chamber containing hydroquinone (a phenol sometimes used in skin whitening treatment) and a chamber containing hydrogen peroxide. When feeling threatened, the gunner will discharge both chemicals into a third chamber on the abdomen to mix with water and many enzymes. After that, they will release a synthetic solution, which has a temperature of nearly 100 degrees Celsius, on the opponent's person.

Impressive defense mechanism of gunner bugs

The rather complex self-defense instincts of gunner bugs helped the team at ETH Zurich create a new type of ATM protection technology. The ETH Zurich ATM will have two separate chemical chambers: one containing hydrogen peroxide , the other containing manganese dioxide (synthetic chemicals in batteries and batteries). These 2 compartments will be separated by a rather thin protective layer. If someone attacks an ATM, the barrier will be quickly broken, the chemicals will mix together to create hot foam.

These hot foams do not cause wounds to thieves, but can create color traces and DNA nanoparticles on bills to make them no longer usable, or to help Investigators can trace trespassers.

Image of money in ATM after being sprayed with acid

"Because the reactive materials here are independent of electricity, they can create a low-cost alternative to the safety systems currently used for public devices, ATMs. and in money transfer systems , " the researchers of the ETH Zurich confirmed when announcing their results.