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Smart Sutures Tie Themselves

Posted by michael on from the rabbit-goes-around-the-tree-and-down-the-hole dept.

edwilli writes "Scientific American has an interesting article on "smart" thermoplastic materal that can tie itself into a knot. Finally you can throw away those velcro shoes."

3 of 14 comments (clear)

  1. A real challenge by Darth_brooks · · Score: 3, Funny

    And thus an old and outdated practical joke gains new life: Shoes that tie themselves together

    --
    There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
  2. Old by Transcendent · · Score: 3, Informative

    I've seen material like this years ago. They did it on Beyond 2000 or some show like that on the Discovery Channel. They showed how you can bend this material (they spelled a name) into a shape, then dip it in a chemical, straighten it out agian, and when you apply heat, it goes right back to how it was. (the order of events may be off, but thats basically how it went)

  3. Didn't really tie itself did it. by mindstrm · · Score: 3, Insightful

    All it did was tighten itself up.

    They heat it up, it shrinks, and tightens the knot nicely.

    Useful, but not exactly a self tying knot.