Nothing reflects back. But don t expect completely impervious shields anytime soon. Any number of technical issues remains to be solved, not the least of which is exactly how to make cold plasmas dense enough to withstand attack. But In a strict sense, I don t consider that plasma shielding. Less immediately space-like, but no less practical, are biological applications.
Cold plasmas allow for rapid decontamination of clothing, equipment or personal gear.
In disrupting the integrity of cell membranes, the plasmas appear to offer a rapid, simple and inexpensive means of destroying even the hardiest bacterial spores. End-on view of a cold plasma inside a glass cylinder. This particular variety can be used to break down toxic gases into harmless constituents. Should this application pan out, it could offer to hospitals and armies alike a safe and reliable way to counteract potential health hazards, either those posed by disease or in combat. Likewise, exobiologists might rest easy knowing that cold plasmas could remove the potential threat of contamination from collected interplanetary samples returned to Earth s surface.