Magnetic spray transforms inanimate objects into mini-robots

Scientists have engineered a spray that turns inanimate materials into mobile, insect-scale machines. The spray contains particles of iron, polyvinyl alcohol and gluten, which combine with water to form sticky, magnetic skins, or M-skins. Thanks to the sprays magnetic properties, the scientists managed to bring ordinary objects to life, like origami paper and cotton thread, according to a paper published last week in Science Robotics.

The researchers captured footage of the millirobots rolling, swimming, and walkingliterally strutting their stuff. But they also performed more purposeful tasks: simulated biomedical procedures. Robotic catheters navigated narrow blood vessels and egg-shaped capsules delivered drugs into living rabbit stomachs.

Read the research: https://scim.ag/36POvUh