MAGNETIC NANOBOTS
Magnetic nanoparticles respond to external magnetic fields. This makes it possible to guide them through space, opening the way for magnet-driven nanobots. Researchers have found that applying different types of magnetic fields can make the tiny robots move in different ways. A rotating magnetic field can make a helical robot spin, winding forward like spring. An oscillating magnetic field can make a nanobot undulate, curling up and down like a fish. And a stepping magnetic field can make it stop and start like a switch, allowing a nanobot’s limbs to perform rowing movements. It’s also possible to combine magnetic control with other types of input, like light or ultrasound. This could one day allow much finer control of a nanobot’s movement, allowing it to perform highly complex and extremely delicate tasks, like surgery.