Changeable Material Inspired by a Sea Worm

Changeable Material Inspired by a Sea Worm
Apr-29-17
Taking inspiration from the sea worm, MIT researchers have developed a material that changes rigidity in response to its environment.

The material is based on the jaw of the Nereis virens marine worm, which will shift in texture from a soft gelatin to hard as bone as the environment dictates. The change in stiffness is due to the large amounts of the amino acid histidine in the worm’s jaw, which interact with environmental ions to change texture.

The MIT material consists of a hydrogel made of a synthesized protein similar to the worm’s, which will strengthen in the presence of zinc ions. The chemical bonds created by the zinc can also be reversed, allowing the material to be more dynamic. The team believes that, among other possibilities, the material could be used to build muscles for soft robots.

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[EUREKALERT.ORG]
[NEWS.MIT.EDU]
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