Accessing pluripotent materials through tempering of dynamic covalent polymer networks. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38300995/)

These scientists wanted to create a special type of material that can change into different forms and have different properties. They were inspired by something called pluripotency, which is a concept in biology that means something can develop into many different things.

To do this, the scientists used synthetic polymers, which are like tiny building blocks that can be put together to make different things. They made these polymers act like a single "pluripotent" material that can change and become different types of materials with different properties. Some of these materials can be hard and break easily, while others can be soft and stretchy.

They did this by using special bonds called thia-Michael bonds. These bonds can change and become stronger or weaker when they are heated or cooled. It's kind of like when you heat up metal to make it stronger. The scientists used this idea to control the strength and properties of their new materials.

They also found that these materials can remember their shape. This means that if you change their shape, like bending or stretching them, they can go back to their original shape when they are heated. They can also make patterns on these materials to control how they behave in different areas.

So, these scientists created a special material that can change into different forms and have different properties by using special bonds and controlling their temperature. This can be really useful in making new things with different functions, like in medicine or technology.

Boynton NR., Dennis JM., Dolinski ND., Lindberg CA., Kotula AP., Grocke GL., Vivod SL., Lenhart JL., Patel SN., Rowan SJ. Accessing pluripotent materials through tempering of dynamic covalent polymer networks. Science. 2024 Feb 2;383(6682):545-551. doi: 10.1126/science.adi5009. Epub 2024 Feb 1.