"Stretchy Electronic Material Gains Strength Upon Impact, Mimicking 'Oobleck'"

Researchers at the University of California, Merced, have developed a conductive polymer film that toughens up upon impact, similar to the behavior of "oobleck," a non-Newtonian fluid. The material, made by combining long spaghetti-like polymers with shorter molecules, deforms and stretches in response to impact without breaking apart. This "adaptive durability" could be applied to wearable electronics and flexible health monitoring devices, with potential for 3D printing compatibility.