We're sure you've heard of the popular material memory foam and its connection to better sleep: conforming perfectly to the sleeper's individual curves, memory foam relaxes the body much faster, minimizes tossing and turning, and regulates temperature. But did you know that this innovation was given to the world by NASA?
Memory foam was created in the 1960s for a NASA project aimed at protecting pilots from the high stresses of takeoff and landing and making their journeys more comfortable. Its original name was "slow recovery foam." Its open-cell structure makes it heat-reactive and it responds immediately upon contact with the body, molding to it and distributing body weight.
About 20 years passed until NASA introduced the technology for mass use, which the Fagerdala factory took advantage of in 1980, introducing the first memory foam mattress from the well-known Tempur-Pedic brand. Fast forward to today, memory foam is used in a number of industries and can be found in furniture, car seats, shoes, clothing, protective sports gear such as helmets and knee pads.
So, the next time you lie on a memory foam mattress, remember that you are experiencing a piece of the 1960s space experience. And if you haven't yet rediscovered the comfort, check out all memory foam mattresses here.
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