Skip to main content

Thieves tampering with ATMs could soon face nasty blast of hot foam and chemicals

Thieves tampering with an ATM in an effort to get their hands on its cash could soon find themselves sprayed with hot foam, and a lot more besides, if technology developed by Switzerland’s ETH Zurich gets bought up by banks.

Inspired by the behavior of the bombardier beetle, which, when it finds itself in a tricky situation with a predator, emits an explosion of gas in an act ETH Zurich describes as “the most aggressive chemical defense system in nature”, the team of researchers has created a special layered film that, when damaged, produces a spray of hot foam.

Recommended Videos

The film has a honeycomb structure comprising hollow spaces filled with one of two chemicals: hydrogen peroxide or manganese dioxide. When the film is broken, a clear lacquer layer separating the two chemicals ruptures, causing them to mix. This is where things get interesting for the unsuspecting criminal.

According to ETH Zurich, the coming together of the two chemicals causes “a violent reaction that produces water vapor, oxygen and heat,” with the sprayed foam reaching a temperature of as high as 80 degrees.

Besides a faceful of hot foamy liquid, the robber will also end up with a bunch of dyed banknotes (if they get that far) covered in DNA enveloped in nanoparticles.

“If the film is destroyed, both the foam and the dye are released, thereby rendering the cash useless,” the team explains on its website. “The DNA nanoparticles that are also released mark the banknotes so that their path can be traced.”

While technology already exists that can spray banknotes in the event of a robbery, research member Wendelin Jan Stark says such systems require electricity and are known to malfunction. ETH Zurich’s technology, on the other hand, is reliable and relatively cheap to implement, with one square meter of film costing around $40.

So, now you know – if you’re passing by an ATM one day and see it erupt in a mass of hot bubbles, it’s a safe bet the person that emerges from the damp cloud of steam (possibly screaming) has been up to no good.

[Image: cleanfotos / Shutterstock]

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Subaru’s electric comeback starts now: Trailseeker EV to debut in NYC
subaru trailseeker ev debut 2026 4  thumb

Subaru is finally accelerating into the EV fast lane. The automaker is officially teasing the 2026 Trailseeker, an all-new electric SUV set to debut at the New York International Auto Show next week. While details are still scarce, the Trailseeker marks Subaru’s long-awaited second entry into the EV space, joining the Solterra — and the expectations couldn't be higher.
The teaser image offers only a glimpse of the Trailseeker’s rear badge and taillight, but the name alone suggests rugged ambitions. It's a clear nod to Subaru’s outdoorsy heritage. But in the EV space, the outdoors belongs to brands like Rivian, whose upcoming R2 compact SUV is already turning heads. The Trailseeker is Subaru’s chance to reassert its identity in an electric age.
Currently, Subaru’s only EV is the Solterra, a joint venture with Toyota that shares a platform with the bZ4X. While the Solterra nails some Subaru essentials — all-wheel drive, spaciousness, and off-road capability — it falls short on key EV metrics. Reviewers have pointed to its modest 225-mile range, slow 100kW charging, and unremarkable acceleration, especially compared to rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5  or Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The hope is that Subaru has learned from these criticisms and is poised to deliver a more competitive product. The Trailseeker could either be a variation of a newer Toyota EV (possibly the next-gen C-HR+), or something entirely new under the shared platform strategy. Subaru previously announced that its next three EVs would be co-developed with Toyota, before launching four in-house EVs by 2028.
Given how long Subaru has waited to expand its EV offerings, the Trailseeker has to deliver. It's not just about adding a second electric model — it's about keeping pace with a market rapidly leaving legacy automakers behind. If the Trailseeker can improve on the Solterra's shortcomings and channel that classic Subaru ruggedness into a truly modern EV, it might just be the spark the brand needs.

Read more
I tested the world-understanding avatar of Gemini Live. It was shocking
Scanning a sticker using Gemini Live with camera and screen sharing.

It’s somewhat unnerving to hear an AI talking in an eerily friendly tone and telling me to clean up the clutter on my workstation. I am somewhat proud of it, but I guess it’s time to stack the haphazardly scattered gadgets and tidy up the wire mess. 

My sister would agree, too. But jumping into action after an AI “sees” my table, recognizes the mess, and doles out homemaker advice is the bigger picture. Google’s Gemini AI chatbot can now do that. And a lot more. 

Read more
What happened to Amazon’s inaugural Project Kuiper launch?
Official Imagery for Amazon Project Kuiper.

Amazon is aiming to take on SpaceX’s Starlink internet service using thousands of its own Project Kuiper satellites in low-Earth orbit.

The first Project Kuiper satellites were suppsoed to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida on April 9, but rough weather conditions forced the mission team to scrub the planned liftoff.

Read more