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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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Scientists Created a Spiderweb-Inspired Sensor That Could Help Millions with Parkinson's Disease

Scientists have created a new biodegradable pressure sensor inspired by the remarkable design of a spiderweb. This innovative technology could help improve robotic hands, wearable health devices, and rehabilitation systems for people living with Parkinson's disease. The sensor is highly sensitive, responds almost instantly to pressure, and remains durable even after repeated use—all while being environmentally friendly.

The breakthrough was achieved by researchers at Seoul National University College of Engineering, led by Professor Tae-Woo Lee from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Their research was published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications on July 4.

A New Generation of Wearable Technology

Wearable electronics have come a long way. Devices like smartwatches can already monitor heart rate and activity levels, but researchers now want wearables to do much more.

Future wearable devices are expected to detect body movements, monitor health in real time, and communicate directly with robots, prosthetic limbs, rehabilitation equipment, and medical systems. These advanced systems are known as human-machine interfaces (HMI) because they allow humans and machines to work together naturally.

One of the most important components in these systems is a flexible pressure sensor. Such sensors can be attached to the skin or joints to measure body signals like pulse, breathing, speech vibrations, and finger movements.

However, creating the perfect pressure sensor has been a major challenge.

The Problem with Traditional Pressure Sensors

Conventional flexible pressure sensors often face a difficult trade-off.

Highly sensitive sensors can detect tiny pressure changes but are usually fragile and wear out quickly after repeated bending or pressing.

On the other hand, stronger and more durable sensors often lose the ability to detect small changes accurately.

Another major concern is sustainability. Most wearable electronic devices are made from plastics and other materials that do not break down naturally. As electronic waste continues to grow worldwide, researchers are searching for greener alternatives.

The Seoul National University team wanted to solve both problems at once.

Learning from Nature's Perfect Design

Instead of designing a completely new structure, the researchers looked at one of nature's greatest engineering masterpieces—the spiderweb.

Spiderwebs are incredibly lightweight but extremely strong. They can detect even the smallest vibrations, helping spiders sense trapped insects instantly. At the same time, the web spreads external forces throughout its structure, preventing damage.

This unique combination of sensitivity and strength inspired the researchers to design an artificial spiderweb pressure sensor.

The team recreated the spiderweb's multilayer fiber arrangement, mesh-like network, and core-shell structure to build a three-dimensional pressure sensor capable of both precision and durability.

Building the Artificial Spiderweb

The researchers first created an ultra-thin fiber network using polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable material made from renewable resources such as corn starch.

Using a technique called electrospinning, they formed tiny spiderweb-like fibers on top of a copper mesh.

Next, these fibers were coated with conductive carbon ink and silver nanowires.

When pressure is applied, the conductive particles move closer together, creating new pathways for electrons to flow. Even a tiny increase in pressure quickly changes the electrical signal, allowing the sensor to detect extremely small movements.

Because the spiderweb structure evenly distributes pressure throughout the network, the sensor remains stable and durable even after repeated bending and pressing.

This nature-inspired design successfully overcomes the long-standing compromise between sensitivity and mechanical stability.

Monitoring the Human Body in Real Time

The researchers tested the new sensor by attaching it to different parts of the human body.

It accurately measured:

  • Heart pulse

  • Breathing patterns

  • Voice vibrations

  • Finger and joint movements

Even subtle body signals were detected instantly.

These pressure signals were then analyzed using an artificial neural network, a type of artificial intelligence that learns patterns from data.

Instead of simply recording signals, the AI could accurately identify different physiological conditions based on the collected information.

This means future wearable devices may not only monitor health but also understand what is happening inside the body in real time.

Controlling Robotic Hands Naturally

One of the most exciting demonstrations involved robotic hand control.

The researchers placed the sensor on a person's finger.

As the finger bent or applied pressure, the sensor measured both the angle and the force of the movement.

These measurements were instantly converted into control commands for a robotic hand.

The robotic hand successfully copied complex finger gestures while automatically adjusting its grip strength according to the user's movements.

This technology could make robotic hands much more natural and responsive.

A New Hope for Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation

Parkinson's disease affects millions of people worldwide.

One of its most challenging symptoms is the gradual loss of fine motor control. Patients often struggle with simple daily activities such as gripping objects, writing, or buttoning clothes.

The new pressure sensor could play an important role in rehabilitation.

Because it accurately detects even tiny finger movements, it can provide precise control signals for robotic rehabilitation devices or assistive robotic hands.

These systems could help patients perform exercises more effectively while giving doctors valuable information about their progress.

Although more clinical testing is needed before widespread medical use, the technology shows great promise for improving quality of life.

Beyond Parkinson's Disease

The applications extend far beyond rehabilitation.

Researchers believe the artificial spiderweb sensor could be used in:

  • Intelligent prosthetic hands

  • Wearable AI healthcare devices

  • Soft robotics

  • Human-machine interfaces

  • Remote healthcare monitoring

  • Smart rehabilitation systems

  • User-friendly service robots

The sensor also supports wireless Bluetooth transmission, allowing body signals to be monitored and displayed in real time.

This could make remote patient monitoring more accurate and convenient.

Better for the Environment

Perhaps one of the most important advantages is sustainability.

Unlike many existing wearable electronics that eventually become electronic waste, this sensor is made primarily from biodegradable materials.

As wearable technology becomes more common around the world, environmentally friendly materials will become increasingly important.

The researchers believe this work offers a new path toward sustainable electronics that combine high performance with reduced environmental impact.

A Major Step Toward Smarter Healthcare

Professor Tae-Woo Lee explained that the research successfully solves a problem that has challenged scientists for years: creating a pressure sensor that is both highly sensitive and mechanically durable.

By copying the structural principles of natural spiderwebs and using biodegradable materials, the team has demonstrated that wearable electronics can be both powerful and environmentally responsible.

The researchers now plan to further develop this technology into a key platform for next-generation human-machine interfaces that combine artificial intelligence, robotics, healthcare, and sustainability.

As wearable AI devices continue to evolve, innovations inspired by nature may soon help robots better understand human movements, assist patients with neurological disorders, and create smarter healthcare systems—all while protecting the environment.

Reference: Dai, J., Kim, KN., Xie, G. et al. Multiscale artificial spider web for comprehensive pressure sensing and human-machine interaction. Nat Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74200-y

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