Superstrong artificial muscle can lift 1000 times its own weight

Three teams have developed artificial muscles that can lift 1000 times their own weight. They hope the new fibres could be used in prosthetic limbs, robots, exoskeletons, and even in clothing. All three teams have developed their muscles according to a similar principle: that a coiled-up substance can stretch like a muscle. The idea was developed by Ray Baughman and his colleagues at the University of Texas, who found that twisting up even a simple material like sewing thread or fishing line can create a muscle-like structure that, for its size, can lift weights 100 times heavier than human muscle can manage. Now, Baughman's team have developed stronger fibres, using similarly inexpensive materials.