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Ever wanted superpowers?

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

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

The 'electronic skin' gives the wearer a 'sixth sense' so they can perceive the presence of magnetic fields

Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto, with Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as Mystique, in a scene from the X-Men 2 film, where his character also had magnetic abilities

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 recipient with a 'sixth sense' able to perceive the presence of static or dynamic magnetic fields.

'These ultrathin magnetic sensors with extraordinary mechanical robustness 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 proximity 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 radii of less than three micrometer, and survive crumpling like a piece of paper without sacrificing the sensor performance. 

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

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

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

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

They can survive crumpling like a piece of paper without sacrificing the sensor performance

'Future electronic skin aims to mimic 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 unfamiliar 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.