Materials researchers use synthetic hydrogels which mimic the features of human muscles -- they''re strong, soft, full of water, and resistant to fatigue. Now researchers have discovered they mimic human muscles in another way, writes technology_dude: MIT researchers have found a way to give synthetic hydro gels human muscle characteristics: by taking the hyrdogels "to the gym"... The gym workout basically consisted of repeatedly stretching the material while in a water bath, [which] causes nanofibers to align "to produce a strong, soft, and hydrated material that resists breakdown or fatigue over thousands of repetitive movements," Phys.org reports. The hydrogels can also be 3D-printed into different shapes, and the researchers believe the materials could one day be used for sensitive biomedical implants like heart valves, cartilage replacements, and spinal disks -- and for "soft robots."
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