What Kind Of Bean Is Natto? Can It Be Used To Make Smart Clothing?

What kind of bean is natto? Natto is a soybean product made from soybeans fermented by natto bacteria (Bacillus subtilis), which has the functions of thrombolysis, anti-tumor, blood pressure-lowering, and anti-oxidation. Natto originated in China and has been made since the Qin and Han dynasties, and its predecessor is "Chinese salted tempeh". The name "natto" originated in Japan, and natto is also commonly used in Japanese cuisine, so those who like Japanese food will not be unfamiliar with natto. So, what does it have to do with smart clothing?

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab and the Royal College of Art in the United Kingdom extracted a bacillus subtilis from this natto, and used Bacillus subtilis to make a new fabric, named BioLogic, which can be used to make smart clothing.

This is because the proteins, cellulose, and DNA of "natto cells" have a miraculous function that responds to moisture in the atmosphere; Expands and contracts automatically according to the humidity of the air, and the higher the humidity, the greater the cell expansion. Therefore, the R&D team made natto cells into biofilms on the printer through a specific model, and then printed them on spandex cloth. This biofilm can be printed in different patterns to produce different effects.

By printing this biofilm on the garment, the garment has the function of automatically adjusting according to the sweating of the human body, so that the garment remains breathable and the body remains cool and comfortable. When the human body sweats, the natto cells sense the humidity and begin to react, and the biofilm on the garment automatically opens the vent to allow the water to evaporate, and the cells will automatically stop the reaction when the water dries. The biofilm vent is closed. These natto cells are able to respond to different levels of humidity, and the more the body sweats, the more breathable it becomes to cool the skin. At 100% humidity, they can be fully opened for maximum breathability.

Using the fabric designed by this microbial technology to make smart clothing, so that the smart clothing can be automatically adjusted according to the human body situation, and there is no need to drive the power supply, which can be described as a great progress in the research and development of smart clothing