The team, led by NUY Abu Dhabi’s Panče Naumov, developed a material they dubbed smart molecular crystals. In a paper published in the journal Nature Materials, they outlined the observation process that allowed them to identify the material’s impressive properties.

During experiments, they observed that the material could be mechanically damaged in extreme cold and then repair itself. Importantly, it also recovered its ability to transmit light after being damaged. This is essential for low-temperature flexible optical and electronic devices.

According to a press statement, the material can restore its structure even at temperatures as low as −196°C (−320°F), the boiling temperature of liquid nitrogen. The material also remains functional throughout a wide temperature range, going up to 150°C (302°F).