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Nokia's introduced some interesting concept phones over the years, but its latest, called Morph, has got to be its most revolutionary/strangest yet.

The name pretty much says it all. That's because the point of Morph is to show how manufacturers may one day leverage nanotechnology to turn future mobile devices into stretchable and flexible gadgets with transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces.

Morph is the latest example of how Nokia's always looking at ways to push the envelope, according to company Chief Technology Officer Bob Iannucci. He said the company is always "looking at ways to reinvent the form and function of mobile device” and show "what might be possible."

Hence the Morph concept is as much art as it is science and design. In fact, the Morph concept is currently on display in the Design and the Elastic Mind exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art in New York through May 12th.

Morph was developed by the Nokia Research Center (NRC) in partnership the University of Cambridge. The two announced a long term agreement to work together on joint research projects, such as the one behind Morph, last March.

Dr. Tapani Ryhanen, the head of the NRC Cambridge UK laboratory, hopes “that this combination of art and science will showcase the potential of nanoscience to a wider audience. The research we are carrying out is fundamental to this as we seek a safe and controlled way to develop and use new materials."

Don't hold your breadth too long waiting for a Morph-like phone to make into your hands, however, as it may or may not ever happen. And while Nokia predicts "elements of Morph might be available to integrate into handheld devices within 7 years,” it’ll initially only be at the high-end. Anyway, seven years is a long time, especially in the fast moving world of mobile devices where change seems to happen on a daily basis.

See here for more on Morph.