Mikrobots Kullanarak Okyanusu Temiz Tutmak

Researchers have figured out an effective way to keep the world’s waterways cleaner. A çalışma published in ACS Nano this week explains how microbots could reduce plastic pollution in aquatic environments. These magnetic-powered devices offer a sustainable and reusable option to the market. Here’s everything you need to know about how researchers want to use tiny robots to fight pollution.

Mikroplastikler Sorunlara Neden Oluyor

Microplastics are a major problem for the world. These tiny particles form over time as plastic products break down. Microplastics measure -5 micrometers in size, making them very difficult to collect from aquatic environments. Sadly, these tiny plastic particles pose ecological and health risks when left untouched.

Gıda Zincirleri

One major issue with microplastics is that they get consumed by fish and other ocean life. These particles get eaten, which introduces microplastics into the food chain. Sadly, the cycle doesn’t end; even after the microplastics make it to human consumption, they make their way back into the environment.
Stool samples have confirmed that microplastics have polluted the environment so much that it’s now a part of your body. One çalışma found that the average person eats 50K plastic particles yearly. Today, these harmful particles can be found in nearly every aspect of life, making it paramount that reduction systems be put in place.

Bakteriler

Microplastics are detrimental to brain development and cause other illnesses. These tiny plastic particles attract problematic growth from algae and bacteria. These species create pathogens and cause disease if consumed or inhaled for prolonged periods. Specifically, studies have linked respiratory and cardiovascular diseases to microplastics in the air, soil, and water. As such, there is a strong demand to reduce their environmental and health impact.

Mikrobots

Microbots are tiny machines that often contain one moving component that can be activated using electrical, chemical, or magnetic forces. There are many applications for these tiny robots from healthcare to safety and security. In this instance, the researchers sought to create a magnetically powered and controlled swarm that could be controlled based on current.

Kaynak – ACS NANO