Bionic Butterfly Flaps Its Wings with Heart Muscle Cells


Image: Fu, F., et al. ScienceRobotics 28 Mar 2018 Vol 3, issue 16, eaar8580

When we hear the word "robot," usually we think of a mechanical being made of metal and electronics - but that's not what a team of researchers at Southeast University in Nanjing, China, made. Instead of metal, they use a combination of heart muscle cells, hydrogels and colloidal crystals to create a biohybrid hydrogel structures that can move.

In the image above, the wings of the biohybrid butterfly flaps due to the rhythmic contractions of the heart muscle cells. Cool, huh?

I, for one, welcome our new soft robotic overlords.


Newest 2
Newest 2 Comments

Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"Bionic Butterfly Flaps Its Wings with Heart Muscle Cells"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More