New Bikini Cleans the Ocean While You Swim

Thanks to researchers at The University of California, bathing suits may soon be as useful as they are fashionable. The husband and wife team of Cengiz and Mihri Ozkan have created a bikini that actually absorbs pollutants in the water, so you can help the planet while taking a dip.

Here's how it works. The bikini is made from a sponge-like material that is actually extremely water repellent, which allows the material to absorb oil and contaminants in the water rather than the water itself. These contaminants are held inside pores of the fabric so they stay locked in the bathing suit rather than coming in direct contact with the wearer's skin, so there is no fear that swimmers are exposing their body to more contaminants than necessary while swimming. The bikini is capable of absorbing up to 25 times its own weight in pollutants.

Though experimentally designed as a bikini, this revolutionary material could also be used to make wet suits, swimming caps and one-piece swimsuits for even more ocean cleaning power. Once absorbed, the contaminants in the material won't be released again unless the material is heated to 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit). The sponge material is set within a frame and can be used up to 20 times before being replaced with new inserts. There is no word yet, however, on what would be done with the discarded sponges once they are full.