Scientists Invent Self-Healing Material with Engineered Squid Proteins

New study finds that genetically-engineered squid proteins, found off the coast of Spain, can rapidly self-heal and biodegrade.

Loligo vulgaris, a squid found throughout European waters, has a self-healing protein in its suction cups. Image by Hans Hillewaert on Wikimedia.

What do the U.S. military, SpaceX, and Amazon have in common? They use robots to automate repetitive tasks. Humans are prone to error, after all, and need to eat and sleep. Robots, on the other hand, do not eat or sleep. They are made of thick metal, often with futuristic, brutalist designs. But they are prone to break and tear — especially when they jump 30 feet in the air.

Though robots are traditionally made of hard metal to protect sensitive components, a growing number of engineers are shifting their attention to soft robots, built from flexible materials similar to those found in nature. Soft robots have many advantages compared to their clunky ancestors; they are typically lighter and more adaptable, at least in terms of what materials they can be constructed with. These attributes make soft robots ideal for navigating…