Researchers report a new force sensor with dimensions comparable to a grain of rice. The device measures both normal pressure and twisting (torsional) forces in multiple directions, and it does so using light-based sensing rather than conventional electronic components. According to the researchers, the small, lightweight design is intended to let robotic tools and medical instruments detect what they touch, including at very small scales where bulkier sensors are impractical. The outlets describe potential uses in “feeling” contact to help prevent damage to delicate objects and to improve performance in tasks that require careful interaction. One source also says early tests involve detecting hidden tumors in tissue, suggesting the sensor could support imaging or diagnostic approaches that benefit from pressure or mechanical response information. Across the reports, the central claims are that the sensor is extremely small, can sense forces and twisting motions all around it, and uses light for measurement. The reported medical application is based on preliminary results, while the robotics use is presented as a potential benefit enabled by the sensor’s fine-scale force detection.