Ordinary clothing tends to trap heat and sweat during intense activity in the cold. Using a technology developed for spacesuits, NASA worked with the apparel industry to create new "phase-change" materials that enhance comfort by moderating temperatures between the body and the environment. Phase change fabrics can also be found in bedding, baby blankets, and more.
While on a spacewalk, astronauts get exposed to both searing hot and brutally cold temperatures. Keeping them comfortable is the oasis of their spacesuit, which must regulate temperatures against exterior heat and cold and also manage the heat and humidity coming from astronauts' bodies. One technology NASA investigated for spacesuits was phase change materials, which absorb or release heat at a set temperature range.
Learn more about how NASA helped develop technology that impacts phase change materials within your home's bedroom environment!