Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are developing unique polymers, which change shape upon heating, to open blocked arteries, probe neurons in the brain and engineer a tougher spine.

Energy is stored in the crystalline structure of the polymer as it's stretched, allowing it to snap back when heated. Share on Facebook (opens in a new window) Share on X (opens in a new window) Share ...

Imagine a single piece of material that can change its shape, stiffness, and function—on demand—like a Swiss Army knife made of plastic. That's what researchers at the Harbin Institute of Technology ...

It's the season premiere of SciTech Now! Scientists at Syracuse University are developing a new band aid, one that adapts to your injury as you heal. Diving deep to help coral reproduce. Then, make a ...

The technique of keyhole surgery minimises scarring, speeds healing and reduces the risk of infection. However, it is extremely difficult to carry out delicate surgical procedures accurately in a ...

While shape-memory materials do have some interesting potential applications, many of them require the application of heat in order to change shape – and that could cause problems, in ...

Shape memory materials that can revert back into a desired form after being bent, twisted and stretched are finding their way into a number of applications, ranging from sports bras to more efficient ...

Imagine a world of shape-shifters. A surgeon inserts a small lump of plastic into an anesthetized patient and, like magic, it expands into a life-saving mesh tube that keeps a formerly clogged artery ...

The human body is a harsh environment for implantable materials, what with all the tissue and bodily fluids in which they must reside. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are developing ...

The technique of keyhole surgery minimises scarring, speeds healing and reduces the risk of infection. However, it is extremely difficult to carry out delicate surgical procedures accurately in a ...