Hoodline (Columbus, OH)
June 12, 2025
In a recent stride towards minimizing the damaging impact of concussions, researchers at The Ohio State University College of Medicine have innovated a new material that aims to enhance the protective qualities of headgear. Using a combination of starch and aerogel, an ultralight material traditionally used for insulation, they’ve created a wearable that could significantly drop the risk of concussion.
Lead researcher John LaRocco discussed the study’s findings, emphasizing the material’s efficacy in blunt force absorption. “We found that our composite could absorb about 70% of the impact force under the best conditions,” LaRocco revealed in the study, suggesting that only 30% of the impact force would be transmitted through. This advance was backed by experiments involving tennis balls shot at high speeds towards a mock head, with the new material being put to the test. The study corroborated these results recently shared in the Technologies journal, according to the Ohio State University.
Concussions do not only wreak havoc on a person’s health; they also carry significant financial implications. It’s this dual cost that makes the Ohio State team’s low-cost and practical design innovation particularly relevant. The material’s application extends beyond just the athletic sphere; it has potential use in industries such as construction and defense, where head injuries remain a constant hazard.
Highlighting the broader impact of this research, Taeyoon Eom, a co-author of the study and Ohio State graduate, affirmed the potential benefits for athletes. “That’s why implementing the new material could provide better protection for sports players,” according to the Ohio State University, he mentioned, noting the limitation of current gear that can often be impractically bulky or insufficient in safeguarding against severe head injuries. With sports-related concussions posing a persistent challenge, these findings align with a growing demand for effective, yet practical, protective equipment.