Double locked: Polymer hydrogels secure confidential information

Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University, China, have introduced a “double lock” encryption technology based on thermoresponsive polymer hydrogels. The system encrypts information in such a way that it can only be read at a specific temperature and time window. The design was inspired by the baking of bread, where both temperature and time need to be just right in order to achieve the desired result.