Plastic That Changes Shape In Light

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?

[LiquidCoooled]

I thought you couldn't light the inside your body.

I was under the assumption that was the one place the sun don't shine.

I can see the warning signs now

[homer_ca]

No Flash Photography Please

Coming to a WalMart Near You!

[ackthpt]

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.

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?

[El]

door latches that can be opened with a flashlight.
Right... 'cause we all want a door that opens itself every morning when the sun comes up!

Reminds me of my old Speeder

[YetAnotherName]

I had one of those Star Wars Speeders that fit Luke and Ben Kenobi action figures as a kid. It was all plastic. I accidentally left it on the dashboard of my mom's car during a sunny day.

Sure enough, light changed its shape irrevocably.

For Slashdot Readers...

[rookworm]

This could be the ultimate cure for geeks. Simply wear special plastic goggles that restrict vision (and hence computer access) if wearer does not go outside.

Sometimes the simplest things are the best...

[Gadgetfreak]

Personally, I'd like some self-adjusting miniblinds.

Longhorn features irregular monitors

[Virtual Karma]

Inside sources have confirmed that Longhorn will have a cool feature called 'irregular display'. If the use hits 'windows key + $ + ^ + F13' the screen would emit a low wave length light that will deform the monitor. You can preset the deformation patterns before hand. This revolutionary feature uses the 'plastic deformable by light' discovered recently at MIT.

"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.

[rookworm]

Chasitity belts!

Plastic that changes shape in light - nothing new

[Kevin108]

Just think about the dash on the clunker you drove in high school.

Re:Heat and Artificial Muscles?

[Anonymous Coward]

When will somone invent a viagra replacement using this technology? BOING...

Now you can hide your...

[ad0gg]

Real doll when you have visitors over, but when the lights turn off at night she transforms like cinderella.

perfect for the beach!

[bobalu]

They can stay smallish during the week so the lady doesn't get unwanted catcalls, then when she puts on a bikini - POP!

Ah, plastics... truly better living through technology!

I have something similar.

[KipCas]

Well, my wife does. It can sort of shapeshift. It is plastic as well and if anybody but me or her see it it becomes a "Back Massager".

So that explains it

[_ph1ux_]

I have met some women who have faces made out of this stuff. Unfortunately I had to find out the hard way.

Re:Odd examples.

[UserGoogol]

You have to appreciate the mind of a scientist.

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?!?