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Next Big Thing – self-healing liquid metal circuits

Dodgy gadgets and faulty tech could be a thing of the past, thanks to the self-healing powers of liquid metal

Dan Grabham Dan Grabham

 

Is this the beginning of the T-1000?

Not quite. Boffins have managed to create a self-healing liquid metal which can repair broken circuits. Shape-shifting robot assassins are still a long way off, fortunately.

Probably for the best. How does this work then?

Tiny micro-capsules containing liquid metal are layered over a normal printed circuit. If small cracks appear in the circuit, the capsules break open, release liquid metal, and keep the circuit complete.

And this benefits me how?

Well, hopefully it will mean less trips to the mechanic to fix dodgy car wiring – and fewer gadgets thrown on the junk pile. The wonders of science eh?

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Profile image of Dan Grabham Dan Grabham Editor-in-Chief

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website.  Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Areas of expertise

Computing, mobile, audio, smart home