As UAE gears up to build the first city on Mars by 2117, a Dubai based professor has been successful in making a special chewing gum for space travellers.
Christened ‘UAE Space Gum’ and packed in a shining star-shaped silver package, it contains natural gum, silver particles, date paste, honey and Vitamin C. It has several health and natural benefits.
The product has been developed by Dr Franziska Apprich, an assistant professor at Canadian University Dubai (CUD) with the assistance of a colleague at New York University, Abu Dhabi.
Speaking about the characteristic features of the product, Dr Apprich said, “Chewing gum can help relieve tension, which may be an issue for those taking a voyage into the unknown. It can also help maintain oral hygiene, which is a practical concern for space travellers.”
She added, “The gum is all natural, so that no harmful additives are absorbed into the system. The vitamin C provides support to the immune system in what will be an unknown environment, and the silver is used to treat bacteria in the mouth to prevent gum disease. Honey delivers an energy boost, while the date paste provides flavour, and of course, a tribute to the culture of the UAE."
She has also made a bid to showcase the product at Expo 2020. Her next step will be to work with ministries and the UAE Space Agency to bring this unique product in the production stage.