Tiny Robots Are Fishing For Microplastics

The trick to cleaning up our oceans and waterways may be small, fish-inspired robots.

By Sam Walters
Jun 22, 2022 1:30 PMJun 23, 2022 7:39 PM
Fish Robot
A light-activated fish-shaped robot collects microplastics as it swims (scale bar is 10 mm). (Credit: Adapted from Nano Letters 2022, DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01375)

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There are plenty of fish in the sea. Some are big, and some are small. Some are slow, and some are skittish. Some are bold and bright. And some are actually fish-shaped robots, made to absorb microplastics. A new study in Nano Letters reveals that researchers recently developed a tiny robot that looks and moves like a fish, collecting detrimental plastic particles as it swims through the water.

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