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Smart helmets

to prevent

French brand hearing injuries

presents jeans reduce the risk of soldiers developing hearing injuries, thanks to new research by Nottingham Trent University.

Tiny microphones almost invisible to the naked eye are being knitted into the fabric covering army helmets to
with Smart the user and avoid interfering with military activities. “This innovation will dramatically reduce the risk of service
The microphones – when knitted into the fabric covering regular personnel headwear – will be undetectable to

personnel injured due to long-term noise exposure,” said Professor Dias. “By integrating a low-cost and
yarn discrete dosemeter directly into a textile, such as a helmet cover, the noise exposure of personnel will be
monitored and stored, providing the data necessary to take preventative action in the future.”

French brand Un Jour Ailleurs has collaborated with Emana, the smart yarn developed by the Global
Business Unit Fibras at the Solvay Group, to produce new Apollon slim jeans. “The ideal companion
for a streamlined silhouette, the garment launched by the French brand might look like ordinary New recombinant spider silk
jeans, but it actually hides a beauty secret,” the company reports.

Emana, an innovative polyamide yarn with incorporated bioactive minerals, in contact with the body, Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, a leading developer of These new silk polymers will be evaluated against
facilitates heat exchange, which is said to boost skin microcirculation and improve skin’s spider silk based fibres, has announced that it is now defined performance requirements and the best
appearance. working to create a set of new custom designed performing materials will be scaled up to produce
Manufactured and distributed in Europe exclusively by Fulgar, the Emana yarn is said to absorb body transgenic silkworms under its contract with the US upwards of 100kgs of silk thread.
heat then return it in the form of far infrared rays, harmless and imperceptible natural thermal energy Army.
waves, which are said to help stimulate microcirculation at skin level. The company expects the new strains to
The company says it is working with material complement its Dragon Silk fibres, but, with an eye
“Clinical tests, conducted by independent and international cosmetic laboratories, guarantee the performance objectives, defined by the customer, to on additional targeted applications, the fibres will be
effectiveness of the yarn and highlight its effects, which include improving blood microcirculation, develop entirely new genetically enhanced silkworm designed to generate even higher tensile strength.
making the skin more elastic, firmer and softer, as well as – last but not least – reducing skin strains. “This project is an excellent opportunity for As a result, these new enhanced fibres should
imperfections,” the company explains. us to demonstrate the incredible potential and power provide outstanding performance in protective textile
of engineered silk,” said COO Jon Rice. applications.

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