Best Inventions 2005: Thin Skins

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NICHOLAS EVELEIGH FOR TIME

Keeping Dry
Inventor: Sally Ramsey, Ecology Coatings
Availability: Commercial production in about 18 months
To Learn More: ecologycoatings.com
Like many great inventions, Ecology Coatings' new type of waterproof paper was an accident. While experimenting with a new protective coating for plastic in her lab, chief chemist Sally Ramsey put down paper to keep her workspace clean. But before she trashed the coated paper, she got curious. It turned out that she had created a waterproof and mildew-resistant paper that was easy to write on. The technology could be perfect for such low-cost paper products as shipping labels.
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