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Researchers develop stretchy, electrically conductive material that hardens upon impact


The new material exhibits adaptive durability, meaning it becomes stronger when stretched or hit. Oddly enough, inspiration for the material came in the kitchen.

The project's principal investigator, Yue (Jessica) Wang, notes that when cornstarch and water are stirred together slowly, the mixing spoon moves easily through the mixture. "Adding the positively charged molecules to our material made it even stronger at higher stretch rates," says Di Wu, a postdoctoral researcher in Wang's lab. Practical applications could include integrated bands and backside sensors for smartwatches that could easily withstand the harsh environment of daily life on a human's wrist.

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