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1 0 A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 healing abilities, as it is made of an ionic and conductive poly(acrylamide) (PAAm) hydrogel and can quickly repair itself when torn or damaged. The new sensor can monitor humanmotions in real time. When com- bined with silicon integrated circuits, it can then transfer data directly to a smartphone or other device via Blue- tooth. To demonstrate its wireless capa- bilities, the researchers wired one of their sensors to a printed circuit board, attached it to a human joint, and used it to record motion data. The sensor can also be used to create technology that recognizes human gestures. For exam- ple, the team fabricated a smart glove that integrates five of their sensors on each finger to record information about a person’s hand motions. It can also be used to wirelessly control a robotic hand, by performing the desired hand gestures while wearing the glove. The sensing device shows great potential for applications such as human-ma- chine interfaces, interactive robots, health monitoring systems, and fitness trackers. www.fudan.edu.cn/en. TESTING | CHARACTERIZATION STUDYING STEEL ON THE SPACE STATION For many years, the Institute of Experimental Physics at Graz University of Technology and the industrial com- pany Böhler Edelstahl, both in Austria, have conducted research on the surface tension and temperature dependence of different types of steel. Conventional examination methods only work up to a certain upper temperature limit. At higher temperatures, problems can occur with the sample container that can then affect measurement results. For the experiments, the Austrian team is working with several Japanese and American researchers using the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF). The furnace is an experimental setup of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in the experiment mod- ule Kibo on the International Space Station. The sample is fed into the experimental unit where a laser heats andmelts the floating steel sample. Next, sensors measure the density, surface tension, and viscosity of the molten mate- rial. When the material cools, the researchers can observe and measure this process as well. The experiment is con- trolled from Earth, where the team follows the event live while the data is obtained and passed down. Later this year, the L331 steel sample will be examined again in zero gravity onboard a reduced-gravity aircraft. www.uni-graz.at/en. SELF-HEALING STRAIN SENSOR Researchers at Fudan University, Tongji University, and the Chinese Aca- demy of Sciences, all in China, devel- oped a new strain sensor that is highly stretchable, efficient, and sensitive to motion-related changes in its environ- ment. The sensor also features self- Small balls cut from a steel rod, like the one shown, are now being examined on the ISS. Courtesy of Baustädter/ TU Graz. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, used computer calculations to design a carbon-based material they call “pentadiamond” that is harder than diamond. The new structure has the potential to replace synthetic diamonds in difficult cutting applications. www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en. BRIEF Geometric structure of pentadiamond. Courtesy of University of Tsukuba. A sensor’s motion capabilities are tested by researchers. Courtesy of Hang, et al.