The University of California, Riverside, has come up with a whole new bikini contest. It’s not how it looks, but rather, how well it can clean the ocean. That’s right, you’re reading this correctly. UC Riverside’s scientists have come up with a bikini that is made with materials that will help clean the ocean. Mihri Ozkan, a professor of electrical engineering at UC Riverside, said that this material the bikini is made out is considered a super material that happens to be very cost-effective to produce. Now you can be actively saving the world by just buying a bathing suit and chilling in the ocean, and do it for a low price!
How is this accomplished?
The bikini is made up of a sponge material which is made up of heated sucrose, a carbohydrate that can be found in many plants. This sponge has been enclosed in the elastomer, more well known as a sort of rubber material. It is created by 3d printing it into the mold of the bathing suit. This sucrose sponge-y material cleans the ocean by filtering and absorbing anything that is contaminating, while also repelling the actual water. This bathing suit holds up to 25 times what it actually weighs, and it is designed so you don’t have to worry about the contaminants touching your skin, because it is safely locked into the sponge. This pad does fill up though, and eventually has to be replaced after several wears. Luckily for you, and the environment, you can recycle the pad!
Where can I get one?!
This fusion of clothing and technology is currently in the works of being patented. It just won first place at the Reshape 15 Wearable Technology competition. This is competition is all about combining technology and fashion, which they consider wearable technology. It is definitely on its way to the market.
Will this include other swimwear besides bikinis?
First off, your body is perfect, I’m sure you would rock a bikini. Even if you’re a dude. You should totally go for it. There are many unanswered questions right now, so hopefully, there will be more information in time for Spring Break 2016 so we can all go wear our eco-friendly bikinis in the ocean. Perhaps we will be able to have a more symbiotic relationship with the ocean by doing so!
