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'Thermochromorph' art changes with the temperature


Imagine having a picture on your wall that completely changes when the room gets too warm. Engineers at MIT have created a new printing technology called Thermochromorph to make full-color images that switch in response to temperature.

In most applications, they’re basically black sections that turn transparent under heat, making for mugs that reveal hidden images when filled with hot drinks, or trading cards with secret messages that appear when rubbed. Researchers Paris Myers (left) and Ticha Sethapakdi (right) hold a Thermochromorph image that turns its head as the temperature risesDesign by Alex Shipps, photograph by Mike Grimmett/MIT CSAIL Getting full-color Thermochromorph tech into the hands of artists and designers is an exciting idea, but the team acknowledges that there are limitations – mainly, image resolution and print quality.

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