Ever thought space tech could end up in your kitchen? 🛰️🍽️ Well, China's at it again! Engineers from the China Academy of Space Technology have taken a high-tech barrier film—originally designed for the orbital China Space Station—and repurposed it to keep our food fresher for longer. Talk about out-of-this-world innovation! 🚀
In a recent reveal, scientists showcased this cutting-edge flexible film that blocks gases and germs, providing exceptional protection for your favorite snacks. To prove it, they did a little experiment: they took a piece of tofu (yes, the humble bean curd) and split it into two. One half went into regular packaging, and the other into their new super-film. After a week, the regular tofu was looking pretty sad 🤢, but the one in the high-barrier package? Still fresh and ready to eat! 😋
Cai Yuhong, part of the research team, explained that the barrier films we usually use (you know, the shiny stuff inside chip bags) have some issues—they're opaque, can't be microwaved, and aren't recyclable. Only a few countries have moved beyond this tech. \"The new high-barrier film we developed draws inspiration from space coating technology,\" Cai said.
So, what's the space connection? In low Earth orbit, the sun breaks down oxygen molecules into atomic oxygen, which can seriously mess up spacecraft materials. To protect the space station's cables, engineers use a special coating as a barrier. Now, that same technology is set to keep our food fresh and tasty. Pretty cool, huh? 🌟
Reference(s):
China Space Station's coating tech enhances food preservation on Earth
cgtn.com
