"Breakthrough: Physicists Create Counting Metamaterial"

Physicists from Leiden University and AMOLF Amsterdam have developed a mechanical metamaterial made of rubber that can count up to ten and remember the order in which it is pressed. The material consists of beams that bend in a specific pattern when pushed, allowing it to perform simple computations. The researchers also discovered that different levels of force can elicit different reactions in the material, creating a lock-like mechanism. This inexpensive and robust metamaterial has potential applications in various fields, such as counting cars on a bridge or creating customizable pedometers. The team plans to explore more complex structures for advanced information processing.