Plastic That Changes Shape In Light 123
JLavezzo writes "Picture a flower that opens when facing the sunlight. In work that mimics that sensitivity to light, MIT Engineer Robert Langer and his German colleagues have created the first plastics that can be deformed and temporarily fixed into shape by light. This material could one day lead to medical devices that build themselves inside a patient's body, or door latches that can be opened with a flashlight. Additional commentary available at The Science Blog"
Light inside the body? (Score:5, Funny)
I was under the assumption that was the one place the sun don't shine.
I can see the warning signs now (Score:5, Funny)
Coming to a WalMart Near You! (Score:2, Funny)
Yeah, like Shrinky Dinks this'll be a hit with the mail-order or discount store crowd before you know it.
People tend to forget what cyanoacrylate's first purpose was [nih.gov].
WTF? (Score:3, Funny)
Right... 'cause we all want a door that opens itself every morning when the sun comes up!
Reminds me of my old Speeder (Score:5, Funny)
Sure enough, light changed its shape irrevocably.
For Slashdot Readers... (Score:5, Funny)
Sometimes the simplest things are the best... (Score:5, Funny)
Longhorn features irregular monitors (Score:1, Funny)
"This is a unique feature which will help us take on OS X Tiger" - Gates
The only problem is that once deformed the monitors cannot be reverted to their orignal shape. MS is hoping that the users wont discover this bug. They might fix this in Service Pack 24 for Longhorn.
Re:Odd examples. (Score:2, Funny)
Plastic that changes shape in light - nothing new (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Heat and Artificial Muscles? (Score:1, Funny)
Now you can hide your... (Score:2, Funny)
perfect for the beach! (Score:5, Funny)
Ah, plastics... truly better living through technology!
I have something similar. (Score:3, Funny)
So that explains it (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Odd examples. (Score:5, Funny)
Scientist1: Dude, look at this plastic. When it comes in contact with ultraviolet light, the plastic forms bonds with itself, causing it to change shape.
Scientist2: Awesome! If you hit it with another frequency, the proccess reverses itself.
Businessman: Hm. What sort of applications do you think this could have?
Scientist2: App-li-kay-shuns?
Scientist1: Uh, you could make toys out of it. Or... maybe like you could have it bend into... uh... medical things. For medicine.
Businessman: I'm cutting your funding.
Scientist1: WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME?!?