University of Sussex develop new fitness sensor made from seaweed

The sensor, which is able to measure a person’s heart rate and temperature, is designed to work as a second skin or like a temporary tattoo.

Made from natural ingredients such as rock, salt, seaweed and water, the sensor is also thought to be more effective than plastic-based sensors and is also edible.

Dr Conor Boland, a physics lecturer at the University of Sussex, said: “I was first inspired to use seaweed in the lab after watching MasterChef during lockdown.

"Seaweed, when used to thicken deserts, gives them a soft and bouncy structure – favored by vegans and vegetarians as an alternative to gelatin.

"It got me thinking: ‘what if we could do that with sensing technology?’

“For me, one of the most exciting aspects to this development is that we have a sensor that is both fully biodegradable and highly effective.

Scientist from the University of Sussex holding the seaweed sensor (Image: University of Sussex)"The mass production of unsustainable rubber and plastic based health technology could, ironically, pose a risk to human health through microplastics leeching into water sources as they degrade.”

The hope behind the project is that the seaweed sensors could be applied like a temporary tattoo and could be used as a non-invasive way of tracking patients' health in fitness and clinical settings.

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The findings on the sensor were recently published in a research paper.

Dr Sue Baxter, director of innovation and business partnerships at the University of Sussex, said: “We are committed to protecting the future of the planet through sustainability research, expertise and innovation.

"What’s so exciting about this development from Dr Conor Boland and his team is that it manages to be all at once truly sustainable, affordable, and highly effective – out-performing synthetic alternatives.

“Our Sussex scientists have created a device that has real potential for industry development into a product from which you or I could benefit in the relatively near future.”