Cooling pump made of thin films drops temperatures by 16 degrees, can transform wearables

UCLA scientists have developed a novel cooling device using nanotube-coated polymer films that continuously pump away heat. The quarter-inch thick prototype can lower temperatures by up to 16°F continuously and 25°F at the heat source after 30 seconds. It operates via the electrocaloric effect, which causes temperature changes in materials through electric fields. More energy-efficient than traditional air conditioning and free of greenhouse gas coolants, researchers aim to develop it into wearable cooling accessories for hot work environments.