This is the First LIVING Robot and it's Unbelievable
AsapSCIENCE・2 minutes read
US researchers created the first xenobot, a tiny living robot made of organic cellular material, combining frog skin and heart cells using computer science and evolutionary algorithms. Xenobots, designed to act like robots with emergent behaviors, could be used in medical applications like tumor removal, environmental tasks like cleaning micro-plastics, and raise ethical concerns regarding their rights and treatment.
Insights
- Xenobots, created from frog skin and heart cells, are tiny living robots designed to perform specific tasks like removing brain tumors or cleaning arteries, showcasing emergent behaviors when multiple cells cooperate.
- The biodegradable nature of xenobots, naturally breaking down after a short lifespan, offers potential for safer medical applications compared to traditional materials, prompting ethical debates on their rights and treatment as living entities with cognitive capabilities.
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Recent questions
What are xenobots?
Living robots made of organic cellular material.
How long do xenobots last?
Seven to ten days before naturally breaking down.
What are the potential uses of xenobots?
Medical applications and environmental tasks.
How are xenobots created?
By combining frog skin and heart cells.
What ethical concerns surround xenobots?
Discussions on rights, cognitive capabilities, and pain.
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Summary
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"Xenobots: Living Robots with Ethical Implications"
- The xenobot is the first living robot created by US researchers, made entirely of organic cellular material, under one millimeter in size.
- Researchers combined frog skin and heart cells to create xenobots that can move in specific ways, using computer science and evolutionary algorithms to optimize their movements.
- Xenobots are designed by humans to act like robots, with emergent behaviors observed when multiple cells work together.
- Potential future uses for xenobots include medical applications like removing brain tumors or cleaning artery plaque, as well as environmental tasks like breaking down micro-plastics in the ocean.
- Xenobots naturally break down after seven to ten days, making them biodegradable and potentially safer for use in the body compared to traditional materials.
- Ethical implications arise regarding the rights of xenobots as they exhibit cognitive capabilities and potential for feeling pain, prompting discussions on their treatment and status as living organisms.
- The research on xenobots presents a mix of excitement and concern, with the need for careful consideration of the implications and potential uses of these biological robots.
