Scientists Create Octopus-Inspired “Smart Skin” That Can Hide Images, Change Shape, and Encode Information

Octopus-inspired hydrogel reveals hidden image when exposed to temperature changes or solvents

The hydrogel behaves like a programmable canvas. Rather than using traditional pigments, researchers embedded data directly into its physical structure during printing. When the hydrogel warms or interacts with a different solvent, hidden information inside – ranging from letters to portraits – gradually comes into view. In one demonstration, the...Read Entire Article

Scientists Create Octopus-Inspired “Smart Skin” That Can Hide Images, Change Shape, and Encode Information

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Penn State’s Hydrogel Smart Skin Shows 4D Printing’s Potential Beyond Fixed Materials

Researchers at Penn State University have unveiled a 4D printing method that produces “smart synthetic skin” capable of dynamically changing its shape, texture, and appearance in response to external stimuli. Unlike traditional synthetic materials with fixed properties, this hydrogel-based material can perform multiple functions, from adaptive camouflage to information encryption and mechanical deformation, all within […]