ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Research → Inventions

3D-Printed Bottle Caps Will Let You Know When the Milk Has Gone Bad

A new study published in Nature describes the creation of a new sensor which will allow us to know when our liquid food has gone bad - and it may not be long until we can all 3D print bottle caps with these sensors at home.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
July 27, 2015
in Inventions, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

Scientists find out way to map CO2 emissions – for individual buildings
Trump getting arrested and Putin kneeling: AI image disinformation is already happening
This Babylonian Student’s 4,000-Year-Old Math Blunder Is Still Relatable Today
Bloodless Worm Sheds Light on Human Blood

A new study published in Nature describes the creation of a new sensor which will allow us to know when our liquid food has gone bad – and it may not be long until we can all 3D print bottle caps with these sensors at home.

UC Berkeley engineers created a ‘smart cap’ using 3D-printed plastic with embedded electronics to wirelessly monitor the freshness of milk.(Photo and schematic by Sung-Yueh Wu)

UC Berkeley engineers, in collaboration with colleagues at Taiwan’s National Chiao Tung University, are taking 3D printing one step further, to include electronic sensors. For their first application, they’ve developed a smart cap for milk that lets users know when the milk is no longer good for consumption.

“Our paper describes the first demonstration of 3D printing for working basic electrical components, as well as a working wireless sensor,” said senior author Liwei Lin, a professor of mechanical engineering and co-director of the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center. “One day, people may simply download 3D-printing files from the Internet with customized shapes and colors and print out useful devices at home.”

The electrical circuit can in turn detect changes in levels of bacteria in the milk – all you have to do is turn the container upside down to make sure the liquid comes in contact with the cap. The way this sensor is designed, you could apply it to all liquid foods. It could even warn users that the food is nearing its expiration date – it may usher in what some would call “smart food”.

“This 3D-printing technology could eventually make electronic circuits cheap enough to be added to packaging to provide food safety alerts for consumers… You could imagine a scenario where you can use your cellphone to check the freshness of food while it’s still on the store shelves.”

Journal Reference: Sung-Yueh Wu, Chen Yang, Wensyang Hsu & Liwei Lin. 3D-printed microelectronics for integrated circuitry and passive wireless sensors. doi:10.1038/micronano.2015.13

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Environment

Scorpion Stings Are Surging in Brazil with Sting Rates Rising 155%

byTibi Puiu
21 minutes ago
Archaeology

Researchers Used 3D Tech to Rebuild the Parthenon’s Lighting and Discovered It Was Nothing Like We Imagined

byTibi Puiu
49 minutes ago
News

Cells Might Be Doing Quantum Computing. Life on Earth Has Performed 10⁶⁰ Logical Operations

byTibi Puiu
1 hour ago
Art

Whale Tagging at Dawn and Other Stunning Photos of Science in the Wild

byMihai Andrei
3 hours ago

Recent news

Scorpion Stings Are Surging in Brazil with Sting Rates Rising 155%

May 13, 2025

Researchers Used 3D Tech to Rebuild the Parthenon’s Lighting and Discovered It Was Nothing Like We Imagined

May 13, 2025

Cells Might Be Doing Quantum Computing. Life on Earth Has Performed 10⁶⁰ Logical Operations

May 13, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.