Humanlike touch from chemical film

A newly unveiled tactile sensor rivals the sensitivity of human skin. When pressed against a penny, for instance, the film can distinguish the wrinkles in Abraham Lincoln’s clothing.

FEEL THE GLOW. Compressed by a penny, a new, touch-sensitive film lights up (top) to show details of the coin, such as creases in Abraham Lincoln’s jacket, that are also visible in an optical-microscope image (bottom).