GADGETS of the future could bruise when dropped or scratched to highlight damaged areas. Don’t worry though, as a few minutes in the sun will be enough to fade the bruise and repair the damage. Marek Urban and colleagues at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg were inspired to create their self-healing plastic by signs of healing in nature such as newly formed tree bark. Earlier self-healing materials do not change colour and require focused laser light for repairs. This new material turns red when damaged and repairs itself when exposed to visible light or changes in temperature or pH. It can also fix itself multiple times, unlike previous materials.
