Even after being run over by a car (or perhaps trampled by an elephant), a new “super jelly” developed by scientists at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K., pops back into form unscathed, according to an article from Science Alert. The hydrogel, which is made up of 80% water, reportedly acts like an ultra-hard glass when compressed. Researchers say they believe it’s the first time a soft material has demonstrated this type of resistance to compression.
What separates this mighty jelly from other hydrogels lies in its molecular composition and the way it uses crosslinks, according to the article. The new material, once fully developed, offers a range of potential applications from use in soft robotics to improving the flexibility of cartilage replacements in the human body.
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