Alberto Comoretto
@albertocomoretto.bsky.social
Postdoc at KU Leuven.
I research squishy machines and autonomous soft matter 🦠 🤖
Inflatables 🎈 fluidics 🫧 mechanical instabilities ⛓️💥 and self-oscillators 🌀
https://www.albertocomoretto.com/
I research squishy machines and autonomous soft matter 🦠 🤖
Inflatables 🎈 fluidics 🫧 mechanical instabilities ⛓️💥 and self-oscillators 🌀
https://www.albertocomoretto.com/
Pinned
Autonomous locomotion simply with tubes as limbs, and no brain? 🎈🤖
Yes, through physical synchronization! Our article is out today in Science (@science.org)
Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Authors: @albertocomoretto.bsky.social, H.A.H. Schomaker, J.T.B. Overvelde
More below 🧪 ⚛️
(1/6)
Yes, through physical synchronization! Our article is out today in Science (@science.org)
Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Authors: @albertocomoretto.bsky.social, H.A.H. Schomaker, J.T.B. Overvelde
More below 🧪 ⚛️
(1/6)
Can soft machines remember past events using their body, without any processor? 💭
Out now in Device (Cell Press @cellpress.bsky.social), we harness bistable elastic shells to program and memorize locomotion behaviors upon interactions with the surroundings. 🎈🐙
🧪⚛️ www.doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
(1/9)
Out now in Device (Cell Press @cellpress.bsky.social), we harness bistable elastic shells to program and memorize locomotion behaviors upon interactions with the surroundings. 🎈🐙
🧪⚛️ www.doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
(1/9)
August 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Can soft machines remember past events using their body, without any processor? 💭
Out now in Device (Cell Press @cellpress.bsky.social), we harness bistable elastic shells to program and memorize locomotion behaviors upon interactions with the surroundings. 🎈🐙
🧪⚛️ www.doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
(1/9)
Out now in Device (Cell Press @cellpress.bsky.social), we harness bistable elastic shells to program and memorize locomotion behaviors upon interactions with the surroundings. 🎈🐙
🧪⚛️ www.doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
(1/9)
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
christoph: "yes" is a wholesome answer, occasionally 😄
June 13, 2025 at 11:52 PM
christoph: "yes" is a wholesome answer, occasionally 😄
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
Zooming in, we saw that the worm bends its body so much that it can form a kink at the bend! Kinks are usually detrimental in structures. For example, Kinked straws are useless. But this nematode can reversibly kink its body and keep jumping!
April 24, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Zooming in, we saw that the worm bends its body so much that it can form a kink at the bend! Kinks are usually detrimental in structures. For example, Kinked straws are useless. But this nematode can reversibly kink its body and keep jumping!
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
🌬️ 𝘒𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘥’𝘈𝘳𝘪𝘢: 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴. Our installation, Kirigami d’Aria, is on view as part of the biennial architecture exhibition Time Space Existence organized by the European Cultural Centre.
July 18, 2025 at 8:53 PM
🌬️ 𝘒𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘥’𝘈𝘳𝘪𝘢: 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴. Our installation, Kirigami d’Aria, is on view as part of the biennial architecture exhibition Time Space Existence organized by the European Cultural Centre.
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
Buckling normally happens when you compress something slender, but 'tug' on a piece of crumpled paper at two points and it also buckles. Read more about how this "localized-TUG folding" occurs in many systems at: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2423439122
May 12, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Buckling normally happens when you compress something slender, but 'tug' on a piece of crumpled paper at two points and it also buckles. Read more about how this "localized-TUG folding" occurs in many systems at: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2423439122
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
July 5 - 6 is World Firefly Day! Like a lot of insects fireflies are threatened by our actions. 🧪🐡Check out fireflyersinternational.net to find out how you can help gather data on these magical animals & help scientists track their populations.
My #linocut print shows 3 fireflies (Photinus pyralis,
My #linocut print shows 3 fireflies (Photinus pyralis,
July 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM
July 5 - 6 is World Firefly Day! Like a lot of insects fireflies are threatened by our actions. 🧪🐡Check out fireflyersinternational.net to find out how you can help gather data on these magical animals & help scientists track their populations.
My #linocut print shows 3 fireflies (Photinus pyralis,
My #linocut print shows 3 fireflies (Photinus pyralis,
And our wobbly robot is on Veritasium! 🤩 🎈
🎬 Interview with Veritasium: www.instagram.com/reel/DKKfd36...
📝 Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@science.org 🧪
@veritasium.bsky.social ⚛️
🎬 Interview with Veritasium: www.instagram.com/reel/DKKfd36...
📝 Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@science.org 🧪
@veritasium.bsky.social ⚛️
Physical synchronization of soft self-oscillating limbs for fast and autonomous locomotion
Animals achieve robust locomotion by offloading regulation from the brain to physical couplings within the body. In contrast, locomotion in artificial systems often depends on centralized processors. ...
www.science.org
May 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
And our wobbly robot is on Veritasium! 🤩 🎈
🎬 Interview with Veritasium: www.instagram.com/reel/DKKfd36...
📝 Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@science.org 🧪
@veritasium.bsky.social ⚛️
🎬 Interview with Veritasium: www.instagram.com/reel/DKKfd36...
📝 Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@science.org 🧪
@veritasium.bsky.social ⚛️
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
🎉🎉We’re on the cover of Nature Physics! @natphys.nature.com
Here is the original paper www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here is the original paper www.nature.com/articles/s41...
April 26, 2025 at 2:38 PM
🎉🎉We’re on the cover of Nature Physics! @natphys.nature.com
Here is the original paper www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here is the original paper www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Great podcast about our latest article on Science (@science.org) by The Naked Scientists! 🧪⚛️
🐙 🎧 Listen: www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/sho...
📝 Read the article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🐙 🎧 Listen: www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/sho...
📝 Read the article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Speedy, soft robot powered by air alone
The innovation could lead to new drug delivery methods...
www.thenakedscientists.com
May 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Great podcast about our latest article on Science (@science.org) by The Naked Scientists! 🧪⚛️
🐙 🎧 Listen: www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/sho...
📝 Read the article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🐙 🎧 Listen: www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/sho...
📝 Read the article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
This totally tubular robot doesn’t need a centralized processing system to hop around on land or swim in the water—it relies instead on air and simple physics. That and more of the best from @science.org and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪
May 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
This totally tubular robot doesn’t need a centralized processing system to hop around on land or swim in the water—it relies instead on air and simple physics. That and more of the best from @science.org and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪
Autonomous locomotion simply with tubes as limbs, and no brain? 🎈🤖
Yes, through physical synchronization! Our article is out today in Science (@science.org)
Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Authors: @albertocomoretto.bsky.social, H.A.H. Schomaker, J.T.B. Overvelde
More below 🧪 ⚛️
(1/6)
Yes, through physical synchronization! Our article is out today in Science (@science.org)
Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Authors: @albertocomoretto.bsky.social, H.A.H. Schomaker, J.T.B. Overvelde
More below 🧪 ⚛️
(1/6)
May 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Autonomous locomotion simply with tubes as limbs, and no brain? 🎈🤖
Yes, through physical synchronization! Our article is out today in Science (@science.org)
Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Authors: @albertocomoretto.bsky.social, H.A.H. Schomaker, J.T.B. Overvelde
More below 🧪 ⚛️
(1/6)
Yes, through physical synchronization! Our article is out today in Science (@science.org)
Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Authors: @albertocomoretto.bsky.social, H.A.H. Schomaker, J.T.B. Overvelde
More below 🧪 ⚛️
(1/6)
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
Closing out my second talk at the RoboSoft workshops with this: take robot joy seriously! Examples include EMFcamp, Cat Royale, and sextech hack. Fantastic bunch of people doing cool things. Feels like my brain has had a good spring clean.
April 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Closing out my second talk at the RoboSoft workshops with this: take robot joy seriously! Examples include EMFcamp, Cat Royale, and sextech hack. Fantastic bunch of people doing cool things. Feels like my brain has had a good spring clean.
🧪⚛️
An object that shrinks as you pull it? This is physically possible! All you need is a piece of rubber with a weird shape. This is just mechanics and geometry.
This discovery reveals phenomena that defy intuition, and unlocks functionalities that could not yet be achieved in mechanical systems.
This discovery reveals phenomena that defy intuition, and unlocks functionalities that could not yet be achieved in mechanical systems.
April 26, 2025 at 10:20 PM
🧪⚛️
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
Engineer and photographer Harold Edgerton was born #OTD in 1903.
He pioneered various forms of high-speed photography using specialized cameras, strobe lighting, and other techniques. You’ve probably seen many of the images he created! 🧪 ⚛️ 📸
Images: MIT; H. Edgerton
He pioneered various forms of high-speed photography using specialized cameras, strobe lighting, and other techniques. You’ve probably seen many of the images he created! 🧪 ⚛️ 📸
Images: MIT; H. Edgerton
April 6, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Engineer and photographer Harold Edgerton was born #OTD in 1903.
He pioneered various forms of high-speed photography using specialized cameras, strobe lighting, and other techniques. You’ve probably seen many of the images he created! 🧪 ⚛️ 📸
Images: MIT; H. Edgerton
He pioneered various forms of high-speed photography using specialized cameras, strobe lighting, and other techniques. You’ve probably seen many of the images he created! 🧪 ⚛️ 📸
Images: MIT; H. Edgerton
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
The first paper of my PhD is about a strange phenomenon peculiar to ketchup bottle valves 💧🥫 You may already have experienced that annoying sputtering when you squeeze ketchup out of the bottle. But not always, right?
🧪⚛️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🧪⚛️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
March 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The first paper of my PhD is about a strange phenomenon peculiar to ketchup bottle valves 💧🥫 You may already have experienced that annoying sputtering when you squeeze ketchup out of the bottle. But not always, right?
🧪⚛️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🧪⚛️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
March 24, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
Excited to represent @amolf-nl.bsky.social at #APSSummit25 tomorrow.
If you are in Anaheim, do check out my talk on ciliary walkers 🐙
summit.aps.org/events/MAR-B...
If you are in Anaheim, do check out my talk on ciliary walkers 🐙
summit.aps.org/events/MAR-B...
Functionality via Nonlinearities II - Inflatables and Textiles
11:30 am – 2:30 pm, Monday March 17, Session MAR-B63, Anaheim Hilton, Huntington BC (Level 4)
summit.aps.org
March 16, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Excited to represent @amolf-nl.bsky.social at #APSSummit25 tomorrow.
If you are in Anaheim, do check out my talk on ciliary walkers 🐙
summit.aps.org/events/MAR-B...
If you are in Anaheim, do check out my talk on ciliary walkers 🐙
summit.aps.org/events/MAR-B...
Reposted by Alberto Comoretto
From a visit to the Renwick Gallery in DC a couple of weeks ago: a very cool art piece by Lauren Mabry showcasing coiling instabilities in viscous fluids. A beautiful intersection of art, fluid mechanics (and some rheology!). @sorheology.bsky.social @apsdsoft.bsky.social
March 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
From a visit to the Renwick Gallery in DC a couple of weeks ago: a very cool art piece by Lauren Mabry showcasing coiling instabilities in viscous fluids. A beautiful intersection of art, fluid mechanics (and some rheology!). @sorheology.bsky.social @apsdsoft.bsky.social