watch the rainbow
Watch this human-produced 'heart' beat in mesmerizing color
Scientists are bringing the magic of the animal kingdom to the world of technology.
Researchers have created a material that can change colors just like a chameleon, Science reported. In a study published in the journal Science Robotics on Wednesday, researchers used a combination of a special gel and heart muscle cells from rats to mimic the way that chameleon skin absorbs certain wavelengths of light and reflects others. The gel is designed to have "a network of tiny pores" that allows only certain colors to appear, Science explained. With each "beat" of the heart muscles, the gel's structure changes on a microscopic level, causing different colors to be reflected by the substance.
This material could be used to test new medications, Science News reported: Because the color changes are synced to the beat of the heart cells, testing medications that change heart rate could have proof in stunning color. As scientists continue to experiment with the substance, it could even be used to build robots with the ability to camouflage themselves to blend into their environment, just like a chameleon.
Watch the mesmerizing gel in action below, or read more at Science. Shivani Ishwar