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A Squid Skin Blanket
Ultra-lightweight space blankets have been around for a long time. Marathon runners wrap themselves in them to avoid losing body heat after a race. They are very effective, but the amount of heat that they trap is fixed. There is no way to regulate how much heat is trapped or released using a space blanket.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a
next-generation, adaptive space blanket that allows users to control their
temperature. The inspiration for the
design was the skins of various species of squids, octopi and cuttlefish. The ability of these aquatic creatures to
camouflage themselves by rapidly changing color is due, in part, to skin cells
called chromatophores that can instantly change from tiny points to flattened
disks.
The Irvine researchers have developed a material that contains a layer
of tiny metal islands that border each other.
In the relaxed state, the islands are bunched together, and the material
reflects and traps heat, much like a conventional Mylar space blanket. But when the material is stretched, the
islands spread apart, which allows infrared radiation to go through and heat to
escape.
The researchers envision many other applications for the novel
material, including adaptable insulation for buildings and tents that can be
adapted to different weather conditions.
There is even the possibility of clothing that can be adjusted to suit
the comfort of each person.
The new material is lightweight, easy and inexpensive to manufacture,
and is durable. It can be stretched and
returned to its original state thousands of times. Some day we might all be wrapping ourselves
in imitation squid skins.
**********
Web Links
Squid skin inspires creation of next-generation space blanket
Photo, posted May 29, 2005, courtesy of Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
View all episodes
By Randy Simon
4.7
1515 ratings
Ultra-lightweight space blankets have been around for a long time. Marathon runners wrap themselves in them to avoid losing body heat after a race. They are very effective, but the amount of heat that they trap is fixed. There is no way to regulate how much heat is trapped or released using a space blanket.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a
next-generation, adaptive space blanket that allows users to control their
temperature. The inspiration for the
design was the skins of various species of squids, octopi and cuttlefish. The ability of these aquatic creatures to
camouflage themselves by rapidly changing color is due, in part, to skin cells
called chromatophores that can instantly change from tiny points to flattened
disks.
The Irvine researchers have developed a material that contains a layer
of tiny metal islands that border each other.
In the relaxed state, the islands are bunched together, and the material
reflects and traps heat, much like a conventional Mylar space blanket. But when the material is stretched, the
islands spread apart, which allows infrared radiation to go through and heat to
escape.
The researchers envision many other applications for the novel
material, including adaptable insulation for buildings and tents that can be
adapted to different weather conditions.
There is even the possibility of clothing that can be adjusted to suit
the comfort of each person.
The new material is lightweight, easy and inexpensive to manufacture,
and is durable. It can be stretched and
returned to its original state thousands of times. Some day we might all be wrapping ourselves
in imitation squid skins.
**********
Web Links
Squid skin inspires creation of next-generation space blanket
Photo, posted May 29, 2005, courtesy of Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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