Shanghai scientists create computer chip in fiber thinner than a human hair, yet can withstand crushing force of 15.6 tons — fiber packs 100,000 transistors per centimeter

Shanghai scientists from Fudan University have developed a computer chip embedded in a flexible fiber thinner than a human hair, capable of withstanding crushing forces of up to 15.6 tons. This Fiber Integrated Circuit (FIC) packs an impressive 100,000 transistors per centimeter, enabling it to process information like a computer while being flexible enough to integrate into clothing. The FIC's design, inspired by sushi roll construction, offers potential applications in brain-computer interfaces, VR devices, and smart textiles. The researchers' innovative approach involves building complex electronic circuits in thin layers on flexible substrates, rolled into a multilayered spiral architecture. The team has demonstrated the FIC's durability through various tests, including bending, stretching, twisting, and even withstanding the weight of a 15.6-ton truck. They have also outlined plans for mass-producing these FICs for use in various technologies, such as brain-computer interfaces and VR gloves.