17:09 - 7.10.2026

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October 7, Fineko/abc.az. Chinese scientists from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology have developed a "life-like" hydrogel that can change shape when exposed to light. The material can be used in tissue engineering, brain-computer interfaces and robotics, according to the South China Morning Post.

STERS system combines liquid gallium particles and vinyl monomers and is activated by near-infrared light. After one exposure, it can remain active for up to four weeks.

During the experiments, hydrogel was used to control the differentiation of stem cells into bone and neuron-like cells, as well as to modify electrodes that record the activity of the rat embryo brain.

"This makes it possible to accurately detect changes in brain waves, offering a new technique for studying brain activity during embryonic development and contributing to the development of neuroscience," study author Du Xuemin said.

He added that the speed and scale of the change in the shape of the hydrogel can be adjusted in accordance with the changes in the tissue under study.