In an attempt to curb the concussion issue plaguing the game of football, Mississippi State researchers are looking to Mother Nature to help lend a hand.

While studying the concussion issue, researchers at MSU’s Bagley School of Engineering asked themselves how rams and woodpeckers don’t suffer from similar head trauma, despite taking numerous blows to the head. After studying both animals, the team in Starkville believe they have some answers.

“We learned that rams’ horns actually serve to direct the impact of a collision away from the brain,” says professor of mechanical engineering Mark Horstemeyer.

“Using information from our research, we replaced traditional helmet lining with a foam made of microstructures similar to those found in rams’ horns. Tests show our helmet is three times more likely to reduce concussions than helmets worn today.”

The report also indicates a mouthguard is being developed by the team in order to detect concussions when they occur.

Here’s a video the school produced regarding the current concussion research being done at Mississippi State.

Needless to say, if this new helmet technology works as well as advertised, this could lead to the game of football being safer for every player that takes the field in the future.