If you were wondering what practical applications all the activity on the International Space Station is leading to, we have a report from Reuters about new stay-dry underwear being tested by a Japanese astronaut. Developed at Japan Women’s University in Tokyo, the fabric used, called J-ware, can apparently stay fresh longer than it takes to wear by San Francisco homeless.
“He can wear his trunks (underwear) more than a week,” said Koji Yanagawa, an official with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Wakata’s clothes, developed by researcher Yoshiko Taya, are designed to kill bacteria, absorb water, insulate the body and dry quickly. They also are flame-resistant and anti-static, not to mention comfortable and stylish.
Japanese astronaut Takao Doi gave the clothes a trial run during a shuttle mission last year. Even after a vigorous workout, Doi’s clothes stayed dry.
More from Reuters…
Image: Russian Fashion Week 2005, Max Chernitsov