A team of researchers from the University of California was able to create a bikini that is capable of absorbing pollutants in the water.
According to the researchers, this unique apparel, dubbed as the Sponge Suit bikini, will help wearers do their part in cleaning up the environment while swimming, Metro reported.
The main concept behind the bikini is the special sponge material, which was originally designed to clean up oil and chemical spills in oceans. The team, led by engineering professor Mihri Ozkan, then used the mesh-like sponge and inserted it into a 3D-printed elastomer cage that conforms to the shape of the wearer's body.
Through the sponge's water-repelling properties, only pollutants and other small debris are absorbed by the bikini. In addition, through this material's pores, the collected contaminants do not get into contact with the skin.
According to the researchers, the sponge insert of the bikini can be reused up to 20 times without losing its absorbent properties. The absorbed pollutants can also be removed from the material by exposing it to temperatures above 1,000 degrees Celsius.
Ozkan explained that the Sponge Suit bikini is environmentally friendly and can be easily mass produced.
"This is a super material that is not harmful to the environment and very cost effective to produce," she said in a press release according to CNET.
"The sponge itself is highly cost-efficient with the main precursor being sugar," her team added. "Per gram cost of sponge is roughly 15 cents, a reducible cost when achieving economies of scale."
But, as various sources noted, the Sponge Suit bikini will probably not make a very significant environmental impact when used in a realistic setting. However, for Ozkan, the point of her team's creation is using innovative concepts to remind people about their environmental responsibilities even through simple activities such as going to the beach.
According to members of the research team, their next step is to apply the same design to other types of outfits.
"The design can be developed in to different outfits: bathing suits, mayokini, swimming caps," they wrote in a statement. "Reprogrammability, recyclability and affordability are intriguing properties of the technology, allowing room for further research and development in clean-tech wearable."
"We aim for a future where everyone, with any shape and form of swimming outfit, can contribute to the cleanliness of the seas by a sport activity or simply leisurely summer vacation," they added.
The Sponge Suit bikini was presented during the Reshape15: Wearable Technology Competition and won the first prize.
