Smaller than a grain of salt, the tech could revolutionise many fields including medicineRoboticists have built the world’s smallest autonomous robot, capable of making decisions, moving independently and surviving for months. “If you’re small enough, pushing on water is like pushing through tar,” assistant professor Miskin noted. When placed in a fluid, the moving particles drag nearby particles to move with them, creating forward motion. “It’s as if the robot is in a moving river, but the robot is also causing the river to move,” said assistant professor Miskin. “This is really just the first chapter,” said assistant professor Miskin.

Source: Irish Independent January 08, 2026 22:02 UTC