New Technology Could Melt Your Credit Card On Command If Stolen.

I am sure we have all seen the ‘Mission Impossible’ scene when after the agent receives their instructions the device will self-destruct in 30 seconds. Once again, enter reality as researchers unveil electronic circuit that can melt on demand, some by radio signal and some by exposure to water which rendering it useless.

The larger application here for most of us has nothing to do with espionage but security. Imagine if someone stole your phone or credit card and you could remotely send a signal that would destroy all of your pertinent information.

According to the creator Iowa State's Reza Montazami says he believes 'transient materials' could make many ideas into realities such as 'a medical device, once its job is done, could harmlessly melt away inside a person’s body,' or, a military device could collect and send its data and then dissolve away, leaving no trace of an intelligence mission.

In the realm of security for our phones and credit cards he is developing transient LED and transistor technology. In addition they are working on an application of this technology where the sensor degrades with time and temperature to indicate the freshness of food.