GelSight

GelSight is a synthetic rubber substance that can measure and visualize even microscopic surfaces, and it promises to revolutionize both forensics and medicine after some more study.

GelSight was originally used to give robots a sense of touch. How it works is you simply apply it to any surface that needs investigating. GelSight will produce a 3D, highly-detailed image of the surface it's measuring, surfaces that would be more difficult to view with more expensive means.

Source: gizmodo.comAdded: 12 August 2011