With countries investing billions in space exploration, 'The National' looks at 10 inventions on Earth made possible because of space research and technology. Courtesy: US space agency Nasa
After Nasa used red LED to grow plants during the Space Shuttle missions, the technology became part of a two-year clinical trials that found that the light reduced painful side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation treatment in bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients. The WARP 75 medical device became commercially available in 2009. Courtesy: Nasa
Nasa’s technology transfer programme helped one company create invisible braces. In 1989, It worked with Ceradyne Inc to develop translucent polycrustalline alumina, a ceramic that is stronger than steel. Nasa originally used it as a protection tool for infrared antennae on missile trackers. Courtesy: Nasa
In the 1960s, Nasa invented an electrolytic silver ion generator to purify water on the Apollo missions. The technology electronically released silver and copper ions into the water, which helped neutralise bacteria and viruses, and then filtered it. Courtesy: Nasa
A team at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) invented the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor active-pixel sensor in the 1990s – a type of image sensor that improved picture quality using a tiny camera. The same team formed a company called Photobit. By 2000, they had shipped one million sensors, which were used in web cameras, dental radiography and automotive applications. Stock image
After Nasa invented infrared technology to measure the temperature of stars, a company called Diatek partnered with the space agency in 1991 to use the tech in thermometers. The creation helped measure the temperature inside the eardrum. Courtesy: Nasa
Salmonella bacteria was flown to space in hopes to create a vaccine. The Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella Vaccine was developed, but was never distributed to public. Scientists, however, are adding on to the existing research to produce a vaccine. Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg
Commonly known as the space blanket, Mylar was invented in the 1950s to protect Nasa’s space crafts from the sun’s heat. Now, the aluminum-coated plastic material, which traps and reflects heat, is used in nearly all space crafts, satellites and for those with hypothermia. Courtesy: Nasa
Nasa invented wireless headsets in the 1950s for astronauts, but they did not become popular until Neil Armstrong used them during the 1969 Moon landing. The headset was called the MS-50 and was developed by Plantronics within 11 days in partnership with Nasa. Courtesy: Nasa
Aeronautical engineer Charles Yost created memory foam in partnership with Nasa while trying to develop comfortable airline seating. The soft material was also used during the Space Shuttle era and is now widely available in the form of mattresses, pillows and rugs. Courtesy: Nasa
In the 1990s, Nasa researchers accidently discovered how to make baby formula more nutritious. They found that some algae contains fatty acids that are also in human breast milk, specifically docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid. The researchers went on to work for Martek Biosciences Corporation, which developed and manufactured the vegetable oil-like ingredient called Formulaid. EPA
