Multimedia Gallery
The Discovery FilesShapeshifters
Inspired by the growth of leaves, researchers have developed a theory for how to pattern the growth orientations and magnitudes of a bilayer, two different layers of elastic materials glued together that respond differently to the same stimuli. By programming one layer to swell more and/or in a different direction than the other, the overall shape and curvature of the bilayer can be fully controlled.
Credit: National Science Foundation/Karson Productions
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