A team of engineers from the University of Minho in Portugal have developed two ways to modify cotton fabric so that it lets off a citronella aroma when it comes in contact with sweat. Their methods for using sweat against itself are outlined in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.
The scientists used a protein found in pigs' noses (yes, hog snouts could be the key to sweet-smelling sweat) that binds to scent molecules. They also attached what's known as a carbohydrate-binding module, which binds to cotton. They used a second method involving fat-like liposomes rather than proteins to bind the pleasant scent to the fabric.
The tweaked cottons released the citronella scent when they came in contact with an acidic sweat solution. The pig nose protein-treated fabric emitted a "quick burst of scent," while the liposomes cleared the air with a slower, more controlled release.
[...] As a bonus, citronella is also a popular insect repellent. Keeping both the mosquitoes and bad body odor away could soon be as simple as reeling off 50 quick jumping jacks.
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Thursday August 01 2019, @04:56PM (3 children)
Also, who enjoys citronella? At best it is a "necessary to avoid mosquitos". Now that I am learning that it isn't all that effective, it makes me hate it even more.
Its more like "citronella reminds me of camping and outdoors therefore I enjoy it". If they had any effect, it was counteracted by the light from the candle attracting more insects.
The smoke from my charcoal grill is more effective than those stupid candles. (it does attract hungry humans, however)
Also I would like to point out the graphic in that sciencemag article has a caption of "human bait", which i find amusing.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday August 01 2019, @05:03PM (2 children)
I don't mind the smell, particularly of (what I thought was) the live "citronella" plant [wikipedia.org].
But:
https://www.gardenmyths.com/citronella-plant-keeps-mosquitoes-away/ [gardenmyths.com]
Screw it all. I want a future version of that mosquito-killing laser system [wikipedia.org].
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Thursday August 01 2019, @06:54PM
Regardless of effectiveness and scent, I would prefer the laser defense from a coolness factor.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday August 01 2019, @09:52PM
Wait until the mosquitos develop resistance against it! (grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford