PASCAGOULA, Miss. – The University of Mississippi will use the beach to conduct research on equipment that detects buried explosive devices. Researchers from the University’s National Center for Physical Acoustics will use a section at the east end of the beach for two days. Improvised explosive devices, IEDs, are a threat to military personnel. UM-NCPA is testing these detection devices by measuring their capabilities on different types of soil, including a beach. All measurements performed at the site will be non-destructive and will not cause any harm to the site. (Sources: Mississippi Press, Sun Herald, 05/24/13)