This impossibly thin fabric could cool you down by 16-plus degrees

The new textile was designed to combat the urban heat island effect, reflecting both the sun’s heat and the heat that bounces off of buildings and streets.

When a heat wave hits a city, the sidewalks, roads, and buildings end up making the air feel even hotter. Thanks to the urban heat island effect, all that infrastructure absorbs and then reemits the sun’s heat, raising temperatures even more.