A gel that can stop severe bleeding instantly
Sounds cool, but I wonder what would happen with bacteria that are trapped underneath the rapidly solidifying gel.<p>Usually, the flow of blood tends to wash pathogens out of the wound, reducing the chance of nasty infections. Positive blood pressure can therefore be considered a natural defense mechanism. But if you stopped the bleeding too quickly, wouldn't it trap pathogens inside the body before the blood has had a chance to wash them out? Or does the extra-rapid clotting actually trap pathogens <i>within</i> the solid matrix, preventing them from spreading further into the body?