Researchers have developed miniature, shape-shifting machines capable of transitioning between solid and liquid states using magnetic fields. These devices, inspired by sea cucumbers' ability to change stiffness, leverage gallium, a metal that melts slightly above room temperature. Magnetic particles embedded in the gallium enable remote control of its movements and phase transitions.
Key advancements include:
- Material Properties: The gallium melts when exposed to an alternating magnetic field and resolidifies at room temperature. Permanent magnets manipulate its movement in both solid and liquid forms.
- Capabilities: The material can carry heavy loads (10,000 times its weight), stretch, split, merge, and flow through tight spaces.
- Demonstrations: Examples include a toy figure escaping a jail cell by melting and reforming, and a device removing a ball from a model human stomach by enveloping and extracting it.
- Applications: The material shows promise in tasks like soldering and potential biomedical uses. However, adjustments are needed to make it viable in the human body by raising its melting point with additional metals like bismuth and tin.
While the innovation represents a significant leap in soft robotics, challenges remain in precise control within biomedical contexts. Future advancements may involve integrating this material with others for broader applications.
These shape-shifting devices melt and re-form thanks to magnetic fields
Gallium plus magnetism equals something straight out of Terminator 2
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