This isn’t Buzz’s Memory Foam

In the late 1960s NASA wanted an engineered product to aid in the race to space. The concern was the long flight time; the jarring bumps and thumps of the journey and the immobility during the flight. Options available at that time were limited to coil or mesh supported cushions which did little to manage the crash and thump of space travel and could cause pressure sores if mobility was limited. Viscous elastic foam was the engineered product. At that time, and some manufacturers still use the same process; the foam was created using a chemical cocktail with a petroleum base.

Memory foam has come light years from the early process. During that journey it made its way to hospitals and long term care facilities, as the mobility limitations no longer created bedsores. Bedsores are generally caused by pressure point contact with metal springs or coils. Where the spring hits the body it creates a sore spot. Over time, if the sleep is unable to toss or turn the sore develops into a ulcer or bedsore which can lead to dangerous infections such as sepsis or bone infections. Initially memory foam was a egg-crate style mattress topper, designed to keep the patient from the pressure of the coil underneath. This led to the development of a more traditional looking mattress with memory foam. Initial mattresses generated some complaints as people sunk in, the sleep felt hot and there was no smoothness when sleepers moved from place to place as the contours lingered.

But innovation prevailed. The mattress became layered with a support layer, often using a latex base; a coolness layer, which allows air to channel out of the mattress, and a comfort layer. Every manufacturer has a different way of creating contour softness, coolness and comfort but overall the coolness layer allows air movement, the support layer provides the strength of foundation and the comfort layer is usually a thicker more dense layer of foam.

New versions of memory foam have moved away from petroleum materials and moved toward natural or plant based materials. In some cases this is by products from the rubber tree, latex or castor seeds. The natural products eliminate the noxious smell formed with petroleum and keep the mattress from emanating toxic fumes, which are particularly harsh for those with respiratory conditions, allergies or asthma.

The cover of the memory foam mattress now comes in a range of options. Organic cotton and bamboo are popular with the green-thinking consumers. Cashmere is popular with the more luxurious models.

In addition, the memory foam has been enveloped in a variety of frames. The adjustable frame, a hold over from the hospital bed design has also ramped up. It now comes with a variety of suped-up options including smart phone and computer connections, heat, mood lighting and massage.

From the race to space to the race to dreams, memory foam has a distinct history. But there is no doubt that the memory foam mattress today isn’t anything like the one that took the bumps and thumps out of Buzz’s trips to the moon.