This Venom-like magnetic slime robot was a big hit in 2022

A magnetic slime robot that drew comparisons to the Marvel quality Venom could navigate done constrictive passages and hole breached circuits

Technology 20 December 2022

By Alex Wilkins

A gooey, magnetic slime robot that tin squirm done constrictive passages, grasp objects and hole breached circuits captured the imaginations of subject fabrication fans worldwide earlier this year, drawing comparisons to the Marvel quality Venom, and brought its creators an unprecedented magnitude of interest.

“I didn’t expect to person truthful overmuch attraction from the media aft the New Scientist report,” says Li Zhang astatine the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In the days aft its publication, Zhang was contacted by journalists from crossed the world, arsenic good arsenic by respective intrigued investors who wondered astir the imaginable fiscal rewards of processing the robot further.

Zhang’s squad present intends to research utilizing the robot arsenic a “third hand” for surgeons, wherever it could assistance with tasks similar applying unit and holding unneurotic insubstantial successful the gut.

One occupation is that the magnetic slime tin commencement to dissolve successful bedewed conditions akin to the quality body, truthful Zhang’s squad is investigating different substances that mightiness past longer and forestall hazardous magnetic materials leaching out.

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