We have covered the concept of electronic skin (e-skin) quite a bit, reporting on everything from e-skin that self-heals to one that feels like the real thing. However, we have yet to see any of these products become mainstream.

Will this next invention by the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) be the one to finally take e-skin from the lab to actual practical applications? KAUST researchers are reporting a novel e-skin that can mimic the strength, stretchability, and sensitivity of real human skin.

"The ideal e-skin will mimic the many natural functions of human skin, such as sensing temperature and touch, accurately and in real time," said KAUST postdoc Yichen Cai.