New Secret Weapon -- the Indestructible Sandwich (2002)

Picnics and packed school lunches may never be the same again, thanks to the latest breakthrough by military science -- the non-soggy sandwich.

Spurred on by rather unappetizing U.S. battlefield food known as Meals Ready to Eat, scientists at the Army Soldier Systems Center in Massachusetts have devised a vacuum-sealed sandwich that stays edible for up to three years.

"The water activity of the different sandwich components needs to complement each other," project officer Michelle Richardson told New Scientist magazine. "If the water activity of the meat is too high you might get soggy bread."

Using an array of chemicals to seal the meat and inhibit bacterial growth, the scientists already have produced pepperoni and barbecue chicken indestructible sandwiches, which have been given a cautious welcome by soldiers who agreed to try them.

Inspired by their apparent breakthrough, the scientists are now experimenting with pizzas, bagels, burritos and even the staple peanut butter sandwich.

你能想象吗？从此以后，我们平时野餐带去的食物和学校的盒饭将会大变样噢！因为最近美国的军事科学又取得了一项成果，发明了"防水三明治"。

由于以往美国前线上供应 的"速食食品"实在难以下咽，于是位于马萨诸塞州的"军队战士中心"发明了一种真空包装的三明治，这种三明治的保质期可以长达3年。

据美国《新科学家》杂志报道，这项发明的科研负责人麦克·理查德森说："三明治里各种成分中的水分含量应该彼此合理搭配。如果三明治里的肉水分过高的话，肉外面的面包就可能会变得很湿。"

科学家通过一系列化学方法把鲜肉密封起来，这样可以防止细菌的滋长。并且他们已经制作出了意大利香肠和烤鸡肉两种口味的"防水三明治"。尽管一些士兵愿意尝试这种新型的三明治，但是他们对此还是报以小心翼翼的态度。

有了这一喜人的进展，科学家们倍感鼓舞。现在他们正在尝试将传统的匹萨、硬面包圈、面卷饼、甚至花生黄油三明治也改良成这种新型的食品。