Researchers in Japan have developed a gel-based “soft” motor that could be
used to generate tiny amounts of electrical power, with the potential to run
micromachines. Yoshihito Osada and his colleagues at Hokkaido University filled
an absorbent strip of polystearile acrylate gel with alcohol and pierced holes
in the opposite faces of each end. When the strip was floated on water, the
alcohol escaped from the holes and spread out, forcing the strip to rotate at up
to 400 revolutions per minute. By attaching small magnets to each end of the
strip, Osada induced 0.2 microwatts of electrical power in a coil.
More from New ˾þ
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Life
We may finally know why dinosaurs like T. rex evolved tiny arms
News
Space
The distant world that is our best hope of finding alien life
Features
Environment
Solar farm on the ocean outperforms land-based solar in Taiwan
News
Environment
Wind-assisted cargo ships could more than halve shipping emissions
News
Popular articles
Trending New ˾þ articles
1
Mystery of the ancient giant stone jars of Laos may have been solved
2
The ‘doomsday’ glacier’s giant ice shelf is about to break away
3
Why autism pioneer Uta Frith wants to dismantle the spectrum
4
How I used psychology to come back from the worst year of my life
5
Solar farm on the ocean outperforms land-based solar in Taiwan
6
The distant world that is our best hope of finding alien life
7
Himalayan wolf-dog hybrids emerge as a threat to wolves and people
8
Colossal claims an artificial eggshell will help it bring back the moa
9
Odd “butterfly” molecule could lead to new parts of the quantum realm
10
We may finally know why dinosaurs like T. rex evolved tiny arms
