Researchers develop flexible brain implant and humidity-sensing memristor

Researchers have announced two distinct advancements in sensor and implant technology. A collaborative team including DTU, the University of Copenhagen, and University College London has developed the mAxialtrode, a needle-thin, flexible brain implant less than 0.5 mm wide. Unlike traditional rigid silicon devices, this polymer-based tool can simultaneously record electrical activity, deliver drugs, and provide optical stimulation across multiple brain layers.

Separately, an international research team from South Korea, India, and Australia has created a humidity-sensitive memristor. Made from porous nickel pyrophosphate, this brain-inspired electronic device can detect moisture from a distance of approximately one millimeter with over 97% accuracy. The device is capable of ‘remembering’ sensed humidity levels by altering its electrical resistance, offering potential applications in soft robotics, electronic skin, and neuromorphic computing.