Yarns made of the tiny straws of carbon called nanotubes have an astounding ability to twist as they contract, scientists have found.

BBC: Nanotube yarns twist like muscles

These are wrapped in carbon nanotubes - tiny "straws" of pure carbon that are renowned for their electrical properties - and coated with a platinum black powder.

BBC: Robotic jellyfish fuelled by hydrogen invented

Pulickel Ajayan and his colleagues chemically optimised the recipe for each of their five layers, using blends of chemicals common in lithium-ion batteries as well as novel materials including carbon nanotubes - tiny "straws" of carbon with incredible electronic properties.

BBC: 'Paint-on' batteries demonstrated

It works using a mesh made from a combination of tiny carbon cylinders -- known as nanotubes -- and silver wire.

CNN: Nanotech and 'tea bag' to clean up drinking water