Robotics Milestone: This Material Shapeshifts Like an Octopus

Scientists in the United States have developed a soft synthetic material that can rapidly change both colour and surface texture on demand, opening new possibilities for advanced robotics and display technologies.

“This brings us closer to materials that can adapt and respond almost like living skin,” said Nicholas Melosh, a materials scientist involved in the work.

The new material mimics how octopus skin works by swelling in precise patterns, allowing it to form fine textures and alter reflected colours at the nanoscale. By combining a flexible polymer with thin gold layers, researchers were able to independently control colour and texture, even recreating highly detailed surfaces such as miniature rock formations. While the approach still relies on liquids and remains at a laboratory stage, it provides a strong proof of concept for future applications ranging from more lifelike electronic screens to adaptive, soft robotics.