Chinese scientists have developed the world's first rubber band capable of converting body heat into electricity, paving the way for self-charging wearable devices like smartwatches.

This innovative technology is based on thermoelectric principles, where temperature differences generate electrical power, similar to how steam engines convert heat into energy.

The material uniquely combines elasticity with efficient thermoelectric conversion, overcoming previous limitations of thermoelectric materials that lacked flexibility.

Researchers focused on harnessing the temperature difference between the human body, approximately 37°C, and the ambient environment, which ranges from 20 to 30°C, to generate electricity.

This breakthrough could eliminate the need for bulky batteries or frequent charging in wearable devices by providing a constant, self-sustaining power source.