DISCOVERIES
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT…
As a remedy for all the bad news out there, let us prescribe you a small dose of feel-good science. Each issue, we’ll give you a rundown of the latest breakthroughs that aim to solve humanity’s biggest problems. From e-skin that can allow long-distance hugs to blood tests that detect tumours, here you’ll find many reasons to feel hopeful for our future…
GECKO-INSPIRED ROBOT TO BE RECRUITED TO THE OPERATING THEATRE
A climbing robot inspired by geckos could assist surgeons with difficult operations. Dubbed GeiwBot, the robot was designed and built by engineers at the University of Waterloo, Canada. It is made from a smart material that allows users to remotely activate magnetic grippers on its surface that mimic how geckos use their feet to climb walls and trees. Currently, the bot can be moved into position by shining ultraviolet light onto a light-reactive strip on its back that causes it to crawl much like an inchworm. The researchers now plan to develop a system that allows it to be controlled by nearinfrared radiation for potential use inside the body during surgery.