UniSci has a story on a new technology that could result in ultra low cost temperature and stress sensors. Magnetoelastic thin-film sensors can be made from an amorphous ribbon of magnetically soft alloy for as little as a half cent each. The only previously common use for this type of material was passive magnetic field sensors of the type used in department store exits for anti-theft systems. The new sensors were developed by the Grimes Group at PSU.