Plastic, heal thyself: scientists invent smart polymers.

Scientists on Thu 21 Apr 2011 unveiled a new kind of plastic that can repair itself when exposed to ordinary light. The miracle material could extend the lifetime and improve the durability of dozens of polymer-based products, ranging from common household items such as bags and storage bins to inner tyres and expensive medical equipment, the researchers said. Scientists led by Christoph Weder of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio has created a self-healing rubbery material …