A Line to Murder
Murder: When One Isn't Enough
Wynter's Way
Parlor Girls
I've been worried about astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore being stuck in space, worried that they have enough food, worried that they're on a spaceship built by Boeing, and worried about them having clean underwear. Putting together a number of articles on Google, a brief history of underwear in space is as follows:
"In the 1980s, NASA designed disposable absorption containment trunks (DACTs) for female astronauts. In 1988, NASA created the maximum absorbency garment (MAG) to replace the DACT which was later adopted by male astronauts as well. Typically, astronauts bring extra cotton shirts and pants, sleep shorts, slippers, and lined jackets. They wear T-shirts and trousers with pockets and Velcro stripes to attach things, and multiple sets of underwear to change into every day. However, because there are no laundry facilities on the International Space Station, astronauts may wear the same underwear for up to a week. To get around the problems of zero-gravity bathroom breaks, a newly-designed vacuum toilet has been developed. It consists of two parts: a hose with a funnel at one end for urinating and a small raised toilet seat for - - I'll call it number 2.
But getting back to underwear, according to Jeff Owens, a scientist for the United States Air Force, "During Desert Storm, most casualties were from bacterial infections—not accidents or friendly fire." So, scientists created a fabric for t-shirts and underwear so they can be worn hygienically for weeks without washing. The "technology" attaches nanoparticles to clothing fibers using microwaves. Then, chemicals that can repel water, oil and bacteria are directly bound to the nanoparticles. These two elements combine to create a protective coating on the fibers of the material. The coating both kills bacteria, and forces liquids to bead and run off. The soldiers who tested the underwear for several weeks found it remained hygienic and also helped clear up some skin complaints."
And finally, all the dirty clothes are incinerated through atmospheric reentry and turned into dust.
AN AFTER THOUGHT
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, the sun emitted a burst of energy that counted as a very powerful solar flare. Could it have been incinerating underwear?
NEXT MONTH: a bra that converts into a shopping bag. Ain't science fun?
Thanks for sharing this tidbit. Until we get the kind of clothes that appear and disappear with a thought, like for the Marvel superheroes, we should not let the little things get us down. A civilization is only as advanced as its underwear and bathroom facilities.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post. The last line produced a laugh much needed these days.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Who'd have thought zero-gravity would have such an effect on the health of the 'nether' regions? Great post, Karla :)
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