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• Growing research in mechanical computing is yielding more and more breakthroughs including a structure inspired by the Japanese art of kirigami, which can perform complex calculations without any external power.
• Researcher Jie Yin has designed a computer without electronic components, which processes data using mechanical cubes. The device has a host of possible applications in encryption, data storage and haptic feedback.
• An international team is developing an autonomous computing and mechanical actuation system inspired by sensitive plants like mimosa pudica, which could revolutionise soft robotics.