Inspired by living things, the unique material is 10 times as durable as natural rubber.
For the first time, researchers use only light and a catalyst to change properties such as hardness and elasticity in molecules of the same type, according to a new study published October 13 in Science.
The ability to control the physical properties of a material using light as a trigger is potentially transformative.
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Inspired by living things like trees and shellfish, the team created a unique material that is ten times as durable as natural rubber and may lead to more flexible electronics and robots.