A sponge that cleans oil spills by itself

Scientists studied how Mimosa leaves fold up when touched. They copied this trick to build a special sponge. This sponge can soak up oil from water all by itself, then clean up and be ready to use again without extra help. The sponge is made from chitosan, a natural material from shellfish. This base is mixed with rosin from pine trees to make it stronger and full of tiny holes. Carbon tubes are added to help heat move fast through the sponge. All these parts work together like a team. The sponge's design is clever. It has a tight outer shell and a soft inside, like a steamed bun. This protects the little holes inside where oil gets trapped. Because of this design, the sponge can hold up to 25 grams of peanut oil for every gram of its own weight.When the oil is soaked up, the sponge just needs to warm up a bit. It shrinks and lets go of the oil all by itself. This happens at normal room temperatures, so no extra energy is needed. This trick is just like how Mimosa leaves close when touched. Tests show the sponge keeps working well even after being used ten times. Its strength comes from the way its parts connect together. Scientists used computer models to understand how heat moves through the sponge and how the different parts work as a team. The sponge was also tested in real water and soil. It seems safe for living things too. This makes it a good option for cleaning oil spills without harming nature.