MIT's breathable workout suit is here. Say goodbye to sweat!

Harmless microbes in the ventilating flaps power the suit; the flaps, ranging from thumbnail to finger-sized, shrink and expand with changes in humidity.

The microbes act like tiny sensors and actuators, driving the flaps to open/close when the body works up sweat or cools off.

In a paper published in Science Advances, the researchers described a running-shoe with similar flaps to wick away moisture.

In trials to test the suit, participants worked out on exercise bicycles and treadmills while researchers monitored their body temperature and humidity with the help of small sensors on their backs.

After five minutes, the ventilating flaps started opening, just when the participants reported feeling warm and sweaty.

The flaps effectively removed sweat and lowered skin temperature compared to suits with non-functional flaps.

Moisture-sensitive microbe cells do not require additional elements to sense and respond to humidity.

With the availability of latest genetic engineering tools, these cells can be prepared quickly in vast quantities to express various functionalities in addition to moisture response.

To demonstrate multiple functionalities, researchers engineered the cells to not only open/close flaps but also light up in response to humidity.

The paper's lead author and former scientist in MIT's Media Lab and Department of Chemical Engineering, Wen Wang, said they used fluorescence as an example of multiple functionalities that is helpful if people are running in the dark.

Wang said they can combine odor-releasing functionalities in the future.

He added, "So maybe after going to the gym, the shirt can release a nice-smelling odor."