X-Men's Wolverine Inspires Scientists To Create New Self-Healing And Stretchable Material

Logan or Wolverine, as he is also known, is a mutant in the X-Men comic book, cartoon, and movie universe who possesses the ability to heal any injury almost instantly. Taking inspiration from the concept, scientists created a new kind of material that has the same properties, is stretchable, and can conduct electricity.

Self-healing technology is incredibly important in the advancements of certain fields, including space travel. In a recent case, scientists actually managed to create a self-healing silicone chip that could reach another solar system in 20 years. Its regenerative properties will help it survive radiation damage that is all too common in outer space.

In the case of the material created by researchers at the University of California, its self-repairing, stretchable, and electrically conductive nature makes it perfect for improving the qualities of machinery and power sources. It could even be used to create artificial muscles that are stronger and more flexible than metal limbs, Phys.org reports.

The findings of the research were published in the Advanced Material journal and it is the first time that scientists have ever been able to create a functional ion conductor. No one has ever successfully developed a material that allows ions to flow through. All the other properties are just a bonus and a significant one at that.

In any case, according to one of the authors of the study, Chao Wang, the creation of this type of material has confounded scientists for decades. Now that they finally did, it’s time to explore all of the potential uses for such a material.

Wang also confessed that one of his biggest inspirations for creating the self-repairing material is Wolverine, who he is a huge fan of. The idea that something or someone could be damaged again and again, and would instantly recover would certainly have a monumental impact in materials science.