# MIT modules retain electrical connections as structures change shape

_Published Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 7:05 PM EST · Science · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Some of the various configurations that can be taken by the bifur-circuits — Primary](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/94a5051/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2528x1327+0+179/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F65%2F69%2F6c510238472697b7789dbb4f953e%2Fmit-bifurcatedcircuits-01-press.jpg&na.image_optimisation=0)

MIT researchers and collaborators have developed 3D-printed modules that change shape while maintaining electrical connections, New Atlas reports. The team's design endured 10,000 compressions without losing electrical connection during testing.

Called bifur-circuits, the modules rotate and pivot, forming distinct circuits that let connected units communicate and determine their collective shape without external wires. Construction and simulation software lets designers produce structures in a single printing with multimaterial 3D printers. Demonstrations include furniture that converts between chairs and tables and a controller that launches different games depending on its shape. Structurally stable forms with integrated actuation remain a future research goal.

## Sources

- [New Atlas: Technology-Innovation-Outdoor News](https://newatlas.com/electronics/bifur-circuit-transforming-electronics/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/-VOpUZOUPE9j4AJXH45Yh2
Published: 2026-11-08T00:05:53.003Z
Story chronology: 2026-11-07T22:03:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-11-08T06:08:24.470Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)