Materials that glow when stretched

In the latest publication of Nature Chemistry, German scientists have revealed a novel chemical system that displays chemiluminescence under tension. In other words, their materials glow when you pull on them. They achieved this novel material type by cleverly assembling polymers that incorporate certain monomer units into their main chain. "The researchers incorporate an additional element in the plastic molecules, a molecular ring called dioxetane. When the plastic is pulled hard enough, the ring breaks open and emits light," said a university press release. They have created materials that glow in red, yellow, and blue. Though no particular practical application is intended, the research could have important implications for understanding how polymers fail, by helping localize and visualize stresses in polymers under tension.