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Scientists invent magnetic slime robot

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The Chinese University of Hong Kong recently created a brown, slimy, magnetic robot known as the ‘Reconfigurable Magnetic Slime Robot.’

A study about this innovation was initially published on March 2 in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Functional Materials. According to the study, this slime-bot can access restricted spaces and provide ideal solutions for minimally invasive surgery, micromanipulation, and targeted drug delivery.”

The co-authors of this research have been officially listed as Mengmeng Sun, Chenyao Tian, Liyang Mao, Xianghe Meng, Xingjian Shen, Bo Hao, Xin Wang, Hui Xie, and professor Li Zhang.

The slime is controlled by an induced magnetic field, it can be navigated through narrow passages, can grasp objects, and the magnetic particle is coated with Silicon to make the robot safe for use in the body. It engulfs the target just like an Amoeba does to its food. Here’s the official video about its working.

Li Zhang, while speaking to the Guardian, said “The ultimate goal is to deploy it like a robot,” and added that for the time being the slime lacks autonomy. “We still consider it as fundamental research – trying to understand its material properties,” he shared.

The creation even garnered the attention of Sony, who shared a tweet with a reference to the film Venom: “Slime… inside the body…? Interesting…”

ARTICLE: CHAITANYA DIVYESH PATEL

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: THE GUARDIAN

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