The fascinating origins of mattress foam

Blog by The Foam Factory

Since the beginnings of the human race, sleep has been essential for humans to function at their highest capacity. Naturally, humankind has constructed equipment to help them get a good night’s sleep. Today, we call these objects “beds,” and they have been made from many different materials over the course of history. Beds have progressed tremendously from being made of reeds in ancient times to being made of memory foam engineered for maximum comfort. Mattress foam is currently one of the most popular mattress materials, and there is a specific reason why it is able to absorb shifting and movement better than any other type of cushioning.

It turns out that memory foam was developed by NASA in 1966 for the purpose of absorbing shock and providing comfort in airplane seats. It has since been incorporated in bed mattresses, football helmets, and shoe insoles. Charles Yost, the engineer behind memory foam, wanted to create a material that was both soft and durable against high impacts.

The resulting material can evenly distribute body weight and pressure from the people sitting or lying down on it and can conform to the shape of people’s bodies when they push against it. Furthermore, it’s great for reducing motion transfer, which means you’ll feel it much less if your bedmate starts shifting in the middle of the night.

The science behind memory foam mattresses proves that there is no other type of mattress that can provide you with the same amount of stability and relaxation. The Foam Factory has a selection of memory foam mattresses that will help you feel rested and ready for the day.