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Spinoff story
Memory Foam Supports and Shapes in Women’s Apparel
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
The famous, and famously cushy, memory foam was invented for a 1960s Ames Research Center project to improve airline seating safety. A new foam cushion, made out of “temper foam,” did a remarkable job of absorbing impact. Today, the material, more commonly known as memory foam, is used in many commercial products, including San Franscisco-based start-up ThirdLove’s high-end bras, which take advantage of the foam’s ability to soften with body heat and conform to the body for a comfortable, supportive fit.