Researchers at the University of Bristol have made a breakthrough in the development of “life-like” synthetic materials which are able to move by themselves like worms.
Scientists have been investigating a new class of materials called ‘active matter’, which could be used for various applications from drug delivery to self-healing materials.
Compared to inanimate matter — the sort of motionless materials we come across in our lives every day such as plastic and wood — active matter can show fascinating life-like behaviour.
These materials are made of elements which are driven out of equilibrium by internal energy sources, allowing them to move independently.
Researchers from the University of Bristol, in collaboration with scientists in Paris and Leiden, carried out the experiment using special micron-sized (one…