Tattoos used to be a sign you were anti-establishment . . . maybe a little impulsive . . . and definitely tough, because those suckers hurt.ย But maybe not for long:ย A team at Georgia Tech just invented PAINLESS tattoos.ย
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Normal tattoos involve a small needle jabbing you over and over.ย But the new technique doesn't use needles at all, at least not conventional ones.
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Instead, there's a patch with thousands of microscopic needles on one side, so small you can't even feel them.ย But the tattoo is still permanent.
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The needles aren't even metal.ย They're MADE of tattoo ink that's encased in a material strong enough to get through your skin, then it dissolves.
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Each tiny needle represents a single pixel.ย And they can be arranged any way you want to create letters and designs.ย So instead of a tattoo artist, you could design it on a computer, order the patch online, and stick it on all by yourself.
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They also say they'll be cheaper than a normal tattoo.ย And there's a lower risk of infection, because there's no blood.ย
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(Georgia Techย /ย iScience)