The contraption is the brainchild of Dr. Elena Bodnar, a Ukrainian emigre who lives in Chicago.

"You have to be prepared all the time, at any place, at any moment, and practically every woman wears a bra," said Dr. Bodnar, who conceived of the idea after studying victims of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster.

The "eBra" was recognized last year with an Ignoble Award -- bestowed on "achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think,'' according to Improbable.com. "The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative — and spur people's interest in science, medicine, and technology."

"The Emergency Bra is ...a public risk management tool that can ...reduce health consequences of accidents involving harmful airborne particles, such as those released by fire, explosion, terrorist, radiological, biological attack, and natural disasters,'' touts the online store."

But should you manage to evade such disasters, don't fret that you'll have wasted your money: the bra is "first and foremost a beautiful piece of lingerie."