Researchers have discovered how to use laser light to 'sculpt' microscopic plastic blobs into porcupines and pineapples.
April 1, 2026
Original Paper
Light-Sculpted Azopolymer Colloids: From Patchy Spheres to Porcupine and Pineapple Morphologies
arXiv · 2603.29310
The Takeaway
By simply changing the way a laser beam is twisted (its polarization), scientists can force tiny polymer patches to flow and grow into complex 3D shapes. This reversible 'light-sculpting' method could allow us to build micro-robots or medicine-delivery particles with shapes that change on command.
From the abstract
A simple optical strategy to transform patchy PMMA azopolymer composite nanoparticles into complex, fully three-dimensional morphologies using controlled laser polarization is presented. The particles consist of a PMMA core decorated with nanoscale azopolymer patches that undergo localized photofluidization upon trans cis isomerization. Linear polarization drives directed mass transport within each patch, producing elongated super-cones that collectively yield porcupine like particles, whereas c