The opening of a BBC piece by James Gallagher about “transient electronics,” which dissolve within the human body after serving a medical purpose:

“Ultra-thin electronics that dissolve inside the body have been devised by scientists in the US and could be used for a range of medical roles.

The devices can ‘melt away’ once their job is done, according to research published in the journal Science.

The technology has already been used to heat a wound to keep it free from infection by bacteria.

The components are made of silicon and magnesium oxide, and placed in a protective layer of silk.

It is part of a field termed ‘transient electronics’ and comes from researchers who have already developed ‘electronic tattoos’ – sensors that bend and stretch with the skin.”