Creepy Robots? Absolutely
January 29, 2026
Did you know that robotics has advanced so much they’re now making robots smaller than a grain of salt? It’s something out of science-fiction, but Science Daily shares the scoop on these tiny machines: “Scientists Create Robots Smaller Than A Grain Of Salt That Can Think.” University of Pennsylvania assistant professor Marc Miskin is the senior author of a paper that describes these itty bitty wonders.
These teeny tiny robots are called microrobots. They measure 300x200x50 micrometers and that’s barely visible without magnification. They’re programmed to swim, think, and survive for long stretches of time. What’s even cooler is that they’re powered by light.
Each microrobot is equipped with a microscopic computer that contains programmed instructions. The computers can detect temperature changes and the microrobot adjusts their movements accordingly. They move through using their own propulsion:
"Instead of bending or flexing, the robots generate an electrical field that gently pushes charged particles in the surrounding liquid. As those ions move, they drag nearby water molecules with them, effectively creating motion in the fluid around the robot. ‘It’s as if the robot is in a moving river,’ says Miskin, ‘but the robot is also causing the river to move.’”
Miskin worked with David Blaauw’s team from the University of Michigan to design solar panels that would power the robots. The team also redesigned the robots’ programmed instructions so they would inside the computer’s limited memory.
There are limitless applications for these minuscule robots, from medical to weapons usage. Let’s hope they’re used for good and not evil.
Whitney Grace, January 29, 2026
Comments
Got something to say?
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
