![engineers make tunable shape changing metamaterial inspired by vintage toys](https://utterbuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/engineers-make-tunable-shape-changing-metamaterial-inspired-by-vintage-toys-640x360.jpg)
Common push puppet toys in the shapes of animals and popular figures can move or collapse with the push of a button at the bottom of the toys’ base. Now, a team of engineers has created a new class of tunable dynamic material that mimics the inner workings of push puppets, with applications for soft robotics, reconfigurable architectures and space engineering.