Colorful Sunglasses

Embargoed: Tuesday, March 27, 9:30 a.m., Central Time
Length - :58
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Science and fashion have teamed up again. This time, it’s sunglasses that change color instantly at the flick of a switch.

Tired of plain old green or gray lenses? Or maybe you just want to make a bold statement.

No need to rush out and buy another pair of shades. Simply hit the switch and tune in your favorite color.

The secret is in the lenses. They’re made of a special type of polymer that changes color when electric current is applied. The lenses were described at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Chicago.

Chemists from the University of Washington in Seattle, who developed the lenses, say the new sunglasses will offer virtually any color of the rainbow and could be on the market in about two years.

I’m Marvin Coyner in Washington for the American Chemical Society – improving people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry.

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