The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plans to find a way to have soldiers survive major injuries — despite losing half or more of their blood.

When marine mammals dive deep, parts of their bodies go cold, cutting their metabolic rates dramatically. Darpa hopes that drugs or tech might allow soldiers to do the same – their goal is to enable a rat to survive more than six hours after 60 percent of its blood has been drained.

Since it’s quite far-fetched, Darpa studies another option: minimize bloodshed at the source. The Deep-Bleeder Acoustic Coagulation project would use concentrated sonic blasts to heat the damaged cells. “Focused ultrasound allows a noninvasive method of cauterizing” – without fire or a laser – the scientists say. But these specialized ultrasound machines are too bulky � and need an expert hand to manipulate them. Darpa’s looking for a portable emitter for combat that doesn’t need an expert operator.

Via Defense Tech.