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Spinoff story
Antimicrobial Agent Updates Ancient Industry of Prayer Mats
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
Two NASA experiments testing the antimicrobial properties of chitosan, derived from the main compound in arthropod exoskeletons_especially one test carried out on Johnson Space Center_s Cell Culture Module aboard the International Space Station_inspired a feature of what Calgary-based TIMEZ5 Inc. calls _the world_s first physiological prayer mat._ NASA_s research resulted in chitosan_s incorporation into the company_s mats, where it fends off bacteria, fungi, and mold.