New Gloves Can Detect Toxic Substances

Wearable technology is helping us find new ways to monitor and improve our daily lives. While most of that technology allows us to monitor our workouts or check the weather and email, a new piece of wearable technology could save lives. Color changing gloves allow researchers, field workers, and other people to determine if toxins are on the substances they touch.

Developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies EMFT in Regensburg, Germany, the gloves don’t just change colors when they touch substances; they can also detect when toxins are in the air.

The gloves are made of custom sensor materials that change from a safe colorless design to a blue color when toxins are detected. Researchers added an indicator dye to the gloves, which only react when toxic substances are present.

Various industries suffer from the possibility of toxic infections such as chemical production, semiconductor manufacturers, and various scientific labs.

According to Dr. Sabine Trupp, head of the Fraunhofer EMFT Sensor Materials group:

“By synthesizing the adapted color sensor materials, we can detect gases like carbon monoxide, for example, or hydrogen sulfide.”

Researchers who created the new gloves say they can also create similar products that can detect gas line leaks, spoiled packaged foods, and various other substances.

Because the gloves are based on a specialized sensor material, the product could also be added to shirts, pants, and various other pieces of clothing.

What exciting detection practices can you see taking advantage of the new substance detecting gloves?