Scientists at the University of Bristol have created a new class of “active matter” that can exhibit life-like behavior, such as moving and changing shape. The material is made up of tiny Janus particles, which are micrometre-sized particles with hemispheres made of two different materials with distinct physical properties. When an electric field is applied, these particles assemble into 3D worm-like structures. The particles are referred to as “synthetic worms” that can move independently, allowing for the potential design of devices that can move different parts of themselves, or swarms of particles that can search for targets. This could have applications in healthcare, such as targeted medicines. However, the researchers caution that these real-world applications are likely to be far in the future. The study was published in Physical Review Letters and demonstrates a new level of control over the assembly and motion of active matter, which could have significant implications for a wide range of fields.
The synthetic material squirms and wriggles, as if it were a living worm-like entity.
