Folding robots controlled by magnetic fields can be used to study microscopic objects such as cells. Prof Orlin Velev of North Carolina State University explains how they work
What are your microbots made of?
We started with so-called ‘active particles’ that can perform simple tasks such as pushing and penetrating objects. Now we’re studying complex self-folding shapes, such as cubes. Our aim is to make interesting structures for use in future technologies. Our particles are small cubes with one side coated with metal. They become magnetic when we apply magnetic fields and are able to move and change shape.
How do you build a bot?
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TAKE IT SLOW
Slow running is a fitness trend with some hard and fast science behind it
Physics, AI and music share a common thread. You just have to know where to look
Studying science can lead you in many directions and open doors to unexpected possibilities along the way
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When bloodthirsty bed bugs made headlines for infesting Paris Fashion Week in 2023, it shone a spotlight on a problem that's been making experts itch for decades: the arms race going on between bed bugs and humans
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COVID inquiry: What did we learn and what can we do better in future pandemics?
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One hormone could be the key that unlocks a cure for morning sickness
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THE WORLD'S WEIRDEST CREATURES
Under the sea and upon the land, some animals look - to us - pretty strange...
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COME OUT OF YOUR SHELL
Social anxiety is more than just being shy. It's a phobia born out of our evolutionary past. But that raises a puzzling question: why do so many of us fear human interaction when we're supposed to be the most sociable species on the planet?
SPACE ODDITIES
Take a tour of the weirdest spots in the universe, where the 'normal' rules don't apply. Places that squeeze time, blow bubbles and even rain glass... sideways
