In our everyday life, we are surrounded by objects that have properties enabling them to perform certain functions. Rigidity and softness enable an object to perform a specific function. These properties are seemingly opposing in nature, and one property cannot be traded for another.
For example, pillows are soft to provide the necessary cushioning and comfort. A rolling pin is rigid and round to be able to roll over dough. Once these objects are fabricated, those properties cannot be changed. A pillow cannot flatten dough, and a rolling pin cannot provide support for a head and neck.
But imagine if an object as soft as a pillow could transform into an object as stiff as a rolling pin. With a simple switch, that object could acquire the properties and functions of a stiff material and, with another click, those of a soft material.
A material that could do this would allow an object to have multiple functions. This multifunctionality would inherently bring a substantial drop in the use of our resources. It would represent a paradigm shift for the sustainable future of everyday technologies.
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