Shape Shifting Magnetic Slime Could Retrieve Things From Your Body

Medscape Staff

April 04, 2022

A magnetic slime that can be maneuvered to navigate tight spaces could be used to retrieve items in your body, according to scientists from the Chinese University of Hong Kong who are developing the substance.

What to know:

• The new magnetic slime combines the properties of elastic robots capable of manipulating objects and fluid-based robots that can navigate tight spaces.
• The substance has a custard-like consistency and can be manipulated using an external magnetic field to maneuver through tight spaces and grasp objects, making it ideal for possible uses inside the body, including retrieving objects swallowed by accident.
• The slime is a mixture of neodymium magnet particles, the common household detergent borax, and polyvinyl alcohol, a kind of resin.
• The slime is also a good electrical conductor and can be used to connect electrodes and fix broken circuits.
• There are no robotics inside the slime at present, but because it contains magnetic particles, it can be steered like a robot using external magnetics with the “ultimate goal” being to use it like a robot.

This is a summary of the article, “Robot Made of Magnetic Slime Could Grab Objects Inside Your Body,” published by NewScientist on March 31, 2022. The full article can be found on newscientist.com.