Researchers at Cornell University are working on a “biodegradable absorbent wipe” that can detect bacteria, viruses, and other unhealthy substances.
“It’s very inexpensive, it wouldn’t require that someone be highly trained to use it, and it could be activated for whatever you want to find,” said Margaret Frey, the Lois and Mel Tukman Assistant Professor of Fiber Science and Apparel Design at Cornell. “So if you’re working in a meat-packing plant, for instance, you could swipe it across some hamburger and quickly and easily detect E. coli bacteria.”
The napkins would contain nanofibers that include specific antibodies designed to alert the user to chemical or biological hazards through color change.
Apparently these super napkins are still a few years off, but researchers believe that there is a market for this type of technology – from professionals and hypochondriacs alike.
Click here for the Cornell press release.
