* Scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new type of rubber that can heal itself.

* The new rubber is made from a combination of natural and synthetic materials.

* It can heal itself when it is cut or punctured, thanks to a network of tiny, self-healing chemical bonds.

* The research team believes the new rubber could be used in a variety of applications, including tires, medical devices, and sports equipment.

_Watch the video below to learn more._

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How does the new rubber heal itself?

The new rubber is made from a combination of natural and synthetic materials.

The natural material is a rubber called cis-1,4-polyisoprene, which is found in the sap of rubber trees.

The synthetic material is a called dicyclopentadiene, which is a chemical compound that is used in the manufacture of plastics.

The two materials are combined together in a process called solution polymerization, which creates a network of tiny, self-healing chemical bonds.

Benefits of the new rubber:

The new rubber has a number of benefits over traditional rubber, including:

* It heals itself when it is cut or punctured.

* It is stronger than traditional rubber.

* It is more elastic than traditional rubber.

* It is more heat resistant than traditional rubber.

Applications of the new rubber

The research team believes the new rubber could be used in a variety of applications, including:

* Tires

* Medical devices

* Sports equipment

* Industrial equipment

The future of the new rubber

The research team is continuing to work on the development of the new rubber, and they hope to commercialize it within the next few years.

They believe the new rubber has the potential to revolutionize a number of industries.