Researchers have unveiled a new type of sensor¹ that could give humans the ability to detect magnetic fields.

研究人员日前发布了一款新型传感器，可让人类拥有探测磁场的能力。

It works in the same way as bacteria, insects and even vertebrates like birds and sharks detect magnetic fields for orientation² and navigation.

Humans are, however, unable to perceive magnetic fields naturally.

Dr. Denys Makarov and his team have developed an electronic skin with a magneto-sensory system that equips the recipient³ with a "sixth sense" able to perceive the presence of static or dynamic magnetic fields.

"These ultrathin magnetic sensors⁴ with extraordinary mechanical robustness⁶ are ideally suited to be wearable, yet unobtrusive and imperceptible for orientation and manipulation aids." adds Prof. Oliver G. Schmidt, who is the director of the Institute for Integrative Nanosciences at the IFW Dresden.

It is hoped they could be used for navigation, and in robotics.

"It could lead to wearable as imperceptible magneto-sensitive skin that enables proximity⁷ detection, navigation and touchless control," the researchers wrote.

The magneto-electronics are less than two micrometers thick and weights only three gram per square meter; they can even float on a soap bubble.

The new magnetic sensors withstand extreme bending with radii⁸ of less than three micrometer, and survive crumpling⁹ like a piece of paper without sacrificing the sensor performance.

On elastic¹⁰ supports like a rubber band, they can be stretched to more than 270 percent and for over 1,000 cycles without fatigue¹¹.

These versatile¹² features are imparted to the magnetoelectronic elements by their ultra-thin and –flexible, yet robust⁵ polymeric support.

'We have demonstrated an on-skin touch-less human-machine interaction platform, motion and displacement¹³ sensorics applicable for soft robots or functional¹⁴ medical implants¹⁵ as well as magnetic functionalities for electronics on the skin', says Michael Melzer.

"Future electronic skin aims to mimic¹⁶ nature’s original both in functionality and appearance," the researchers wrote in Nature communications.

"Electronics opens a unique path that leads beyond imitation and could equip us with unfamiliar¹⁷ senses.

"These ultrathin magnetic field sensors readily conform to ubiquitous objects including human skin and offer a new sense for soft robotics, safety and healthcare monitoring, consumer electronics and electronic skin devices.