Light-activated drugs could keep sleepless military pilots awake

The U.S. military wants to develop a stimulant that can be turned on or off in the brain using near-infrared light. Such technology could help Air Force pilots stay alert during long combat missions while avoiding negative side effects or addiction.

The AWARE program, a project of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), aims to develop a new version of dextroamphetamine that can be activated or deactivated by exposure to near-infrared light.…