Magnetic particles which assemble themselves into tiny swimming robots

Scientists have taken the first step to recreating the Sandman in Spider-Man 3 - with a series of self assembling robots made of metal particles.

Using magnetic fields a team were able to created the doughnut shaped creatures and move them around between a layer of water and oil.

As soon as they turned the magnetic field off the robots simply disappeared.

Although it is a first step, the researchers from Argonne National Laboratory in the U.S. say that the discovery could one day clean surfaces or become a new way of delivering medical treatment.

In the future it could also be the foundation of a creature or machine that is similar to the Sandman in Spider-Man 3, who is able to dissolve and recreate himself at will.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2024341/Tiny-self-assembling-robots-swim-clamp-particles-release-subjected-right-magnetic-fields.html#ixzz1Udep07LL