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TechKnow Saturday 5:30pm ET/2:30pm PT

TechKnow 107: Bulletproof backpacks & a dairy farm makes its own fuel

October 6, 2013 7:30PM ET

High-tech plastic protective school equipment and a dairy farm that converts manure into fuel

Topics:
Science
Technology
Education
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Join our expert contributors Phil Torres, Lindsay Moran and Kyle Hill as they explore new technology, including a new kind of high-density plastic that can be inserted into students' backpacks or teachers' white boards in hopes of deflecting gunfire. Plus, Kyle visits an Indiana dairy farm that is turning cow manure into clean natural gas (CNG) to fuel their fleet of trucks.

More on bulletproof backpacks and fuel

Hardwire LLC

Hardwire LLC adapted their expertise creating building reinforcements and military field armor to develop bulletproof school products designed to protect students and faculty in the event of a shooting. Their products, ranging from whiteboards and clipboards that teachers can use in instruction to backpack inserts and classroom door reinforcements, are designed to provide emergency armor protection without any damaging psychological impact on students.

Fair Oaks Farms

Fair Oaks Farms uses anaerobic digesters to convert the manure produced by their thousands of cows and pigs into Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). This CNG is then used to power the farm's fleet of delivery trucks. Fair Oaks estimates that the use of this CNG will cut their diesel consumption by 2 million gallons annually.

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