Fraunhofer Lab Engineers a Cycling Helmet That Raises a Stink When it Needs Replacing
This Helmet Stinks When the protective plastics in this cycling helmet are damaged, they release odoriferous compounds that alert the user that it's time to get a new helmet. Fraunhofer IWM Cycling helmets serve but one singular purpose: protecting your cranium when speed and gravity conspire against your cycling prowess. But a helmet that's damaged -- even slightly damaged -- can fail when you need it the most. Compounding the problem is the fact that it's very hard to detect hairline cracks or other flaws in a cycling helmet that result from routine wear and tear. That's why researchers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute have engineered the first bicycle helmet that literally makes a stink when it becomes damaged. Materials scientists at Fraunhofer have developed a new polymer that contains tiny microcapsules containing odoriferous oils that crack open when the polymer's surface is the slightest bit compromised. The smell then...