A tape measure can come in handy for home improvement projects, car repair, or to track how fast your children are growing.

Unless you’re working with steel studs or ... “Yeah, it’s a tape measure … it’s what you expect,” one person said. Everyone thought that the 1¼-inch tapes were bulky and heavy.

Steel measuring tape is an interesting material, in that it's rigid enough to hold its shape when extended, but flexible enough that it gives way under pressure. Scientists have taken advantage of ...