Stretching Horizons for Electrical Devices

MATERIALS SCIENCEResearchers have found that a rubbery acrylic used to stick widgets to refrigerators triples its length when squeezed with high voltage. Known as a dielectric elastomer, the stuff has shattered the standard for electrically induced elongation, they report on page [836][1]. The acrylic and its stretchy silicone brethren might someday control video displays, animate small robots, or power artificial limbs. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/287/5454/836