The Secret Life of Materials

In the past, humans employed traditional materials to build homes, create structures, and develop objects. Today, materials scientists in Europe are drawing from nature and using their ingenuity, determination, and skills to create new products and processes. Interested in trying new technology, a traditional violin craftsman decides to make a violin out of thermal plastic polymer with 3D print technology, although he wonders whether he can replicate the strength, resonance, and sound of the traditional spruce wood (the violin maker’s story unfolds throughout the film). In Sweden, a scientist applies the principles of photosynthesis to successfully create a solar cell using plant pigments instead of silicon. In Italy, scientists successfully test a bionic arm with the capability to sense touch; for the hand to distinguish between hard and soft objects, electrodes are implanted on nerves in the arm that send signals to the brain. In Cambridge, a scientist—who is also a DJ—utilizes nano carbon ink to produce interactive album covers that allow individuals to hear sound when they touch the paper. And another scientist works with the fashion industry to develop a material that conforms to the body and changes color as the crystals in the fabric reflect light. One of the most interesting segments involves an Italian scientist at the Center for Integrative Biology who works on reactive materials that he hopes could ultimately enable structures to be self-producing and self-repairing (a student teams up with him to develop the "amoeba shoe," which will adjust and adapt to the runner). An incredible showcase for wonderful innovations, this is highly recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (T. Root)