World first: New polymer goes for a walk when illuminated

World first: New polymer goes for a walk when illuminated

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Scientists have developed a new material that can undulate and therefore propel itself forward under the influence of light. To this end, they clamp a strip of this polymer material in a rectangular frame. When illuminated it goes for a walk all on its own. This small device, the size of a paperclip, is the world's first machine to convert light directly into walking, simply using one fixed light source. The researchers publish their findings in Nature.



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June 28, 2017 at 12:27PM

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