Micro/nanorobots with controllable deformation and navigation capability are highly promising candidates to perform complicated biomedical tasks in complex and unstructured biological environments. However, it is still a big challenge to accurately control the deformation and navigation of soft microrobots to better adapt to variable environments for task execution. A recent work published in PhotoniX, a photonic nanojet-regulated soft microalga robot (saBOT) based on Euglena gracilis was developed, which has highly controllable deformation and precision navigation capability working in complex and unstructured microenvironments. Such asBOT can precisely navigate in complex and unstructured microenvironments to perform different biomedical tasks, such as precision drug delivery toward a target cell within cell clusters (Figure 1). This saBOT holds great promise in executing different biomedical tasks in complex and unstructured microenvironments that cannot be reached by conventional tools and rigid microrobots.

The study focuses on the synthesis of mesoporous biochar (MC) derived from biomass, using a dual-salt template method involving ZnCl₂ and KCl.

For the tenth consecutive year, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is funding a solicitation that seeks proposals leveraging the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) National Laboratory for research in transport phenomena, which now includes research in manufacturing methods that utilize such phenomena, and the resulting materials. NSF will provide up to $3.6 million in total funding for multiple projects to utilize the space station for fundamental research focused on:

The tiny particles that shed from clothing, packaging and other plastic products are winding up in the fish that people eat, according to a new study from Portland State researchers, highlighting a need for technologies and strategies to reduce microfiber pollution entering the environment.

Sandia National Laboratories is collaborating with other research institutions to head off a potential future energy crisis that could be driven in part by artificial intelligence.