Textiles

Space 'eye' for textiles

An artificial eye developed for Earth observation is now being employed to recognise colour variations in dyed fabrics: a critical element of textile production. This could significantly reduce the 160 million metres of dyed fabrics discarded annually in Europe with high environmental costs.

16 February 2005: European Space Agency

Novel fabrics see the light

In work on smart fabrics and new computer interfaces that could lead to applications including multifunctional textile fabrics and all-optical computer interfaces, MIT researchers report the creation of flexible fibres and fabrics that can not only sense light, but also analyse its colours.

31 October 2004: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Plastics and rubber – useful in space and on Earth

Innovative uses for plastics, rubber and their derivatives will be on display next week in Düsseldorf, at the world's leading trade fair for plastics and rubber, K2004. A team from ESA will be present to show visitors how these commonplace materials can be used in space – and how this can lead to new technology for use on Earth.

13 October 2004: European Space Agency