Microbial Skins (Emerging): Microbial skins are a type of biofilm that consists of a complex community of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and algae, that grow on surfaces in aquatic or moist environments. They form a thin, slimy layer on the surface that protects them from the environment and allows them to grow and reproduce. They can be used to create thin films or coatings on various surfaces, such as metals, ceramics, and polymers, which can provide enhanced properties, such as improved mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and antimicrobial activity.
Soft Morphing Actuators (Emerging): Soft morphing actuators are a type of soft robotics technology that uses flexible materials to create devices that can change their shape or configuration in response to external stimuli. They are important for the next phase of robotics and have many potential applications in various fields, such as biomedical engineering and soft robotics.