Compared to what Richard Branson is talking about this issue might seem less pressing, but still: a world without flat tires would be nice as well. Thanks to researchers in Germany, it could become reality. They discovered a way to manufacture rubber that can “heal itself” after being cut or pierced. Rubber is made up of long strand-like molecules bound together, and when torn, those crucial bonds can’t be put back together, until now. By manufacturing a carbon and nitrogen additive into the rubber, a flat tire can reform those bonds to essentially heal itself. The benefits of self-healing rubber don’t stop there as they can be used in many other things like rubberized seals on industrial machines, making for a safer environment in factories. Now that’s an innovation with some elasticity.
This article was originally published on September 25, 2015
