D3o orange foam seems to have miraculous powers. This luminous foam that resembles a piece of playing doh can resist being hit by a shovel and protect its wearer. This wonder foam can be incorporated into a host of sports gear ski suits, shin pads and motorcycle gloves to protect against unseen danger. So snowboarders can buy d3o-lined woolen beanie hats, while riot police in the US are trying out gloves with d3o-reinforced knuckles. The inventor Richard Palmer is giving demonstrations that involve him being smashed over the head or across the knee with a spade. So people who want to get even with him can try their luck.

D3o tenses up, in the same way as a body builder would firm up his abdominal muscles after inviting someone to punch him in the stomach, and the force of the blow is absorbed.