Gettin' blown up: The US Army is developing inflatable structures called "airbeams" that are lightweight, compact, and incredibly strong. Developed at the Center of Excellence for Inflatable Composite Structures, the technology is used mainly for inflatable shelters, but other applications include "ship fenders, ejection seat stabilizers, high-glide deployable parachute wings, inflatable ladders, pollution containment booms and fuel bladders."