How do camels keep cool in the searing heat?
Their fur offers protection from the sun, preventing loss of moisture and allowing sweat to evaporate, creating a cooling effect.
Now MIT researchers have applied the same principles to the goods industry, achieving similar results by developing a half-inch thick, two-layer membrane comprising water-retentive hydrogel and heat-diffusing aerogel.
The development means food or medication can be kept cool during transportation without the need for electricity, with the aerogel helping to preserve moisture for up to eight days.
And when the moisture does finally evaporate, the hydrogel can be easily recharged with water – and the whole process can begin again.
Pretty cool!
