Researchers at the University of British Columbia have invented a thin, flexible battery that can be tossed into a load of laundry and survive.
The washable works when twisted and stretched to twice its normal length and could be a boon for the wearable electronics industry, which includes both smart clothes and smart accessories, like watches.
“Wearable electronics are a big market and stretchable batteries are essential to their development,” said Ngoc Tan Nguyen, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC’s faculty of applied science, in a news release.
“However, up until now, stretchable batteries have not been washable. This is a critical addition if they are to withstand the demands of everyday use.”
According to the release, Nguyen and his colleagues averted the need for hard battery casing by grinding the compounds — zinc and manganese dioxide — into small pieces and embedding them in rubbery plastic.
There are several “ultra-thin” layers of these polymers wrapped in a casing of the polymer, creating a waterproof seal that has so far, withstood 39 wash cycles.
Zinc and manganese are safer when worn next to the skin than typical lithium-ion batteries, which can produce toxic compounds if they break, Nguyen added.
According to UBC, the invention has already attracted commercial interest.
By the time the battery is ready for the market, it could cost the same amount as an ordinary, rechargeable battery.
“The materials used are incredibly low-cost, so if this is made in large numbers, it will be cheap,” said electrical and computer engineering professor Dr. John Madden, director of UBC’s Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Lab.
“In addition to watches and patches for measuring vital signs, the battery might also be integrated with clothing that can actively change colour or temperature.”
News
New Vitamin B12-Based Therapy Could Change How Brain Cancer Is Treated
Researchers have identified a vitamin B12–based compound that appears capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier and selectively accumulating in glioblastoma tissue. For decades, one of the biggest problems in brain cancer treatment has had [...]
Simple Fiber Supplement Cuts Knee Arthritis Pain in Just 6 Weeks, Study Finds
A daily inulin supplement may help reduce knee osteoarthritis pain while revealing a possible link between gut health, muscle function, and pain sensitivity. For millions of people living with knee osteoarthritis, managing chronic pain [...]
This Common Vitamin May Help Stop Prediabetes From Turning Into Diabetes
Vitamin D may help prevent type 2 diabetes in people with specific genetic variations, offering a possible path toward personalized diabetes prevention. More than 40% of U.S. adults have prediabetes, a condition in which [...]
Ebola, hantavirus: Is the world prepared for the next pandemic?
Funding cuts to health research and a growing antivaccine movement are making it harder than ever to respond to viruses. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that an Ebola outbreak in Uganda and [...]
May 2026 Healthcare News and Trends: Market Signals That Matter
Artificial intelligence is dominating headlines, telehealth has settled into a new normal, and digital health continues to promise transformation. However, much of what is being discussed in healthcare today reflects potential rather than reality. [...]
Scientists Rewire Donor Stem Cells To Outsmart Aggressive Blood Cancers
Researchers have tested a gene-edited stem cell transplant designed to shield healthy blood-forming cells from powerful cancer-targeting immunotherapies. For patients with highly aggressive blood cancers, stem cell transplantation can offer a rare chance at [...]
Recent Digital Health Trends, Insights and News – May 2026
Last month marked continued progress as digital health moves into its next phase — from AI expanding into drug discovery and core infrastructure to new federal pathways accelerating device access and home-based care. Together, [...]
Cancer Mystery Solved: Scientists Discover How Melanoma Becomes “Immortal”
Scientists have uncovered a previously overlooked mechanism that may help melanoma cells become effectively “immortal.” Cancer cells face a major problem before they can become deadly: They have to figure out how to stop [...]
How Visual Neurons Organize Thousands of Synaptic Inputs
Summary: A new study uncovered the organizational rules that determine how neurons in the primary visual cortex process information. By imaging both the cell bodies (soma) and the individual synapses (on dendritic spines) of [...]
Scientists Just Found a Surprising Way To Destroy “Forever Chemicals”
Scientists have uncovered a new mechanism that may help break down highly persistent PFAS pollutants. PFAS have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” for a reason. These industrial compounds are so chemically durable that they [...]
Scientists Discover Cheap Material That Kills Deadly Superbugs
A new sulfur-rich antimicrobial polymer shows strong effectiveness against fungal and bacterial pathogens and may offer an affordable solution to antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is creating growing challenges for both healthcare and food production, [...]
What to Know About Cicada, or BA.3.2, the Latest SARS-CoV-2 Variant Under Monitoring
Like periodical cicadas, the insects for which it is nicknamed, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.3.2 is only just beginning to emerge after lying low for an extended period since it first appeared. Although it was [...]
Scientists Say This Simple Supplement May Actually Reverse Heart Disease
Scientists in Japan say a common supplement may actually help “unclog” certain diseased heart arteries from the inside out. A simple food supplement sold in Japan may have helped reverse a dangerous form of [...]
New breakthrough against radiation: Korean Scientists create revolutionary shield with nanotechnology
Korean Scientists develop new nanotechnology material capable of reducing radiation impacts in space missions, hospitals, and power plants. The search for more efficient protection technologies in extreme environments has just gained an important advance. Korean [...]
Scientists Just Discovered the Hidden Trick That Keeps Your Cells Alive
A strange bead-like motion inside cells may be the secret to keeping their DNA—and health—in balance. Mitochondria are often described as the power plants of the cell because they produce the energy cells need [...]
Scientists Discover Stem Cells That Could Regrow Teeth and Bone
Scientists just uncovered the cellular “blueprint” that could one day let us regrow real teeth. Researchers at Science Tokyo have uncovered two distinct stem cell lineages that play a central role in forming tooth [...]
