News and commentary about the Great Frontiers

ISS007-E-10807 (21 July 2003) --- This view of Earth's horizon as the sunsets over the Pacific Ocean was taken by an Expedition 7 crewmember onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Anvil tops of thunderclouds are also visible. Credit: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center

Image Credit: ISS007-E-10807 (21 July 2003) – Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center

Hybrid Microdevice Walks

Published.

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), have successfully built and tested a “muscle-powered” microdevice that merges silicon technology with biology. The contraption was made of a silicon microdevice connected to “legs” made of bundles of rat heart cells grown on gold. The microdevice was able to “walk” because of the natural contractions of these heart cells, heralding a day when such devices walk through our cells looking for and perhaps repairing damage.

%d bloggers like this: