The military spends $1.5 billion a year to treat hearing loss. This proprietary technology developed by the Naval Medical Research Laboratory in Pensacola, Fla., will result in more effective hearing protection devices for Service personnel exposed to high-level, on-the-job noise. The material's composite technology significantly improves the acoustical energy-absorbing properties of a wide range of materials, including silicone, organic rubbers, polyurethanes and epoxy resins. This advancement will translate into better-fitting and more effective ear-protection devices.