Materials that shape-shift and self-heal ‘pave way for sustainable future’

Gadgets, medical implants and buildings that are able to shape-shift and self-heal based on how the living body works should be explored for a sustainable future, a Royal Society report has said. Human-made materials which are able to mimic living systems could deliver major change across a range of sectors, scientists claim. These are known as animate materials, capable of adapting in a number of ways to their environment. Walls that harvest carbon dioxide from the air to heal themselves, medical devices which can speed up healing and target doses automatically, as well as clothing that changes according to a person’s body temperature, are among the innovations that the report highlights.