Watch this shape-shifting magnetic material catch a ball on command

For decades, scientists have been working on materials that can change shape. Whether it’s bending, contracting or wriggling along, these kinds of ‘smart’ materials could be useful for robotics, engineering and medicine.

So far, many of these materials transform relatively slowly. Sometimes they need to be connected to a controller with wires or tubes, or they have a limited range of movements.

Now, scientists have developed a flexible smart material that is remotely activated, can move in multiple ways, and can transform quickly — changing its shape completely in less than a second.

This material can be 3D printed and scientists use magnets to change its shape.