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Self-Healing Artificial Muscles
Valor1016 writes "Researchers in California have developed an artificial muscle that heals itself and generates electricity. 'We've made an artificial muscle that, when you apply electricity to it, it expands, more than 200 percent, the motion and energy is a lot like human muscles,' said Qibing Pei, a scientist at UCLA and study author. The researchers used flexible carbon nanotubes as electrodes. If an area of the carbon nanotube fails, the region around it seals itself by becoming non-conductive and prevents the damage from spreading to other areas. This material also conserves about 70% of the energy you put into it. As the material contracts after an expansion the rearranging of the carbon nanotubes generates a small electric current that can be captured and used to power another expansion or stored in a battery. The research appeared in the January issue of Advanced Materials."
...Do they turn GREEN and get BIGGER?
Grey goo?
From TFA:
:(
Artificial muscles have been around for years but have essentially hamstrung themselves. Some artificial muscles get so big they tear, developing uneven film thickness and random particles that cause muscle failure.
Grooooooan. I guess I'm dating myself, but I remember when the Discovery Channel had something to do with "science".
Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
Well, I see great applications in artificial penises. Much better than the pump ones!
I prefer Flambe as apposed flamebait.
I'd say that in the modern world, cannibalism is a drawback, not a feature.
There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
Though you are correct, I'm not gonna worry about it too much if its on the nanotube level of things. A few tubes out of commission will hardly keep my massively muscular robot body from raining down destruction upon mine enemies.
Come read my stupid blagablog. Rants and Giggles
Wait, so they've invented a muscle that can isolate damage and keep on going? Didn't anyone learn ANYTHING from Terminator 2? T-1000, here we come...
Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
... and they have a self healing artifical penis that expands to up to 100 times its original size.
That sounds like nanotech from Soviet Russia.
I see your informative link, and raise you a pithy comment.
Is it better than human muscle? No, just different
Tell that to the cyborgs who will kick sand in your face at the beach in 10 years.
Said like a true super villain, just before the hero exploits your only weakness and unleashes a horde of advanced nanotube-tearing nanobots on you.
What if Tetris was invented by Nazis?
As long as I could still shout "OH NOOOO MY EVIL PLAAAAAAaaaannnssssss," as I died, it would be *totally* worth it.
Come read my stupid blagablog. Rants and Giggles