Rice University Mechanical Engineering

Rice researchers develop shape-shifting surface for next-generation human-machine interaction, opening new possibilities for wearable devices and immersive tactile displays.

A team led by Raudel Avila, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, developed a soft, shape-shifting surface that can morph into thousands of different forms while staying durable enough to be pinched, pressed and twisted. Published in Science Advances, the research combines magnetic actuation, built-in sensors and color-changing LEDs into a single system that communicates with people through both touch and sight.

The technology could one day support wearable devices, soft robotics, virtual reality interfaces and assistive tools for people with visual impairments.

Research led by Yong Lin Kong at Rice University's Mechanical Engineering Department has produced a method for printing electronic circuits onto delicate materials, including living tissue. The team's work could eventually lead to medical implants that wirelessly monitor recipients' conditions, high-tech pills, and more.

The Economist reports:

Electronics can now be printed onto living tissues From cow femurs to replacement hips and even living leaves

In work published in Advanced Portfolio News, Rice mechanical engineer Denizhan Yavas and collaborator Ashraf Bastawros of Iowa State University demonstrate that lunar dust, long seen as a hazard for space exploration, can strengthen fiber-reinforced polymer composites. The findings point to a path toward building habitats, protective barriers and other infrastructure for sustained human presence on the moon — without relying solely on Earth-supplied materials.

Learn more:https://news.rice.edu/news/2026/rice-led-research-turns-lunar-material-building-blocks-future-moon-infrastructure