--- title: "This “Artificial Muscle” is 60 Times Stronger Than a Human One" description: "A team of scientists figured out a simple way to create muscles that can lift 1,000 times their own weight: tightly coiled-up bamboo or silk fibers." date: "2019-07-12" modified: "2019-07-12" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/superstrong-artificial-muscle-fiber" categories: - "Robots and Machines" tags: - "artificial muscle" - "fiber" - "muscle robots" - "the digest" --- # This “Artificial Muscle” is 60 Times Stronger Than a Human One ![A team of scientists figured out a simple way to create muscles that can lift 1,000 times their own weight: tightly coiled-up bamboo or silk fibers.]() *\Image: Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Victor Tangermann\* ## High Energy Fibers A team of scientists figured out a surprisingly simple way to create muscles that can lift [1,000 times their own weight](): they tightly coiled-up commonly fibers from bamboo or silk. By applying or removing heat or electrochemically altering it, they found that they could contract and relax the artificial muscles, much like biological ones. The hope is to use these fiber muscles in prosthetic limbs, exoskeletons, or even weave them into special performance clothing that can become more porous as it's reacting to heat from the wearer. ## Ripped Thread In a [paper]() published in the journal *Science* today, the team of researchers claim the synthetic muslces' "gravimetric work capacity" is 60 times higher than that of skeletal muscles in animals. [Previous experiments]() by a team led by Ray Baughman from the University of Texas explored the same principle with other materials including fishing line, and sewing thread in 2014. But these newest artificial muscles are even stronger, while using even cheaper materials. Still, much work remains. Only roughly three percent of energy is actually absorbed by the fibers when heat is applied to them. But their simple design and extremely inexpensive construction could be a boon for future nanofibre technologies and artificial limbs. **READ MORE:** [Superstrong artificial muscle can lift 1000 times its own weight]() \[*New Scientist*\] **More on nanofibres:** *[New “Nanofiber Yarn” Keeps Cells Alive While Injured]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()