Ana Roman Skin

Iowa high-school student Dasia Taylor developed experimental sutures dyed with beet pigment that visibly change color as a wound becomes more alkaline. Healthy skin is mildly acidic, while infected wounds can reach much higher pH levels. Taylor found that her dyed cotton-polyester thread changed from bright red to dark purple around pH 9, potentially creating a low-cost visual warning system for surgical infections without electronics or specialized equipment.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine