This nanotech umbrella sheds water like a ducks back. The nanoscale surface repels water absolutely, so a single shake dries the brolly. Hurrah! If I had gone down the road of materials research, and currently lived in a little lab in the basement of some university, surrounded by white coats and Apple ][s, Nano would be my thing. For one simple purpose. Cycling gloves / mitts usually have a multicoloured patchwork back. This is not for style or fashion. This is not for an ergonomic comfort fit. This is simply so that you know which part of your glove you just wiped your nose on. So that you don't then wipe your eye with it when a beastie gets lodged there. So my nanofabric would have a simple use. Grip tightly to wet stuff, but as it dries, shed it cleanly and immediately. I should be able to dip that thing in tomato soup and it should hang on to that soup like mad. It should be an orange ball! The bowl should be empty. But as soon as the drying power of the wind gets its way, the mitt is sparkly clean again. Bingo.

Cycla is probably sueably close to Lycra as a fabric name. But who cares. I'm not a materials scientist. Sadly.