Nanotechnology Aims To Cure Smelly Feet

KingFish

Researchers believe nanotechnology could someday help build tiny supercomputers or solve many of the world's energy problems. More immediately, a company in Pennsylvania hopes to use nanoparticles to create less-stinky socks.

NanoHorizons, based in State College, Pa., has begun to sell a line of metallic nanoparticles that are compatible with standard polymer manufacturing process. This means that silver, gold and other metals that kill bacteria and odor-causing microbes can be incorporated into shoes, athletic equipment and other plastic or nylon products. "We're working with a company that does socks right now," said Dan Hayes, director of operations for NanoHorizons. The socks should be out in about a year. Currently, manufacturers can incorporate these metals into products by mixing a bulk form of the material into a polymer or evaporating a layer of metal onto a surface. This method, however, requires that manufacturers mix quite a bit of metal into the product, which adds weight and cost and which can change its durability or other characteristics, said Hayes.

Source: ZDNet

primesuspect

Don't walk by any strong magnets--- and good luck getting through airport security

Thrax

Good point. I wonder if they would set off metal detectors.

GHoosdum

I think the metal detector would have to be EXTREMELY sensitive to pick up a few metal particles in your socks.

I can see it now: sock recycling centers to reclaim the gold from our non-stinky socks.