The 21st Show

Smallest In Flight: Northwestern Researchers Invent Winged Microchip

Ryan Andrew Wilde
 
Human-made 3D microfliers with a propeller leaf, which was their natural inspiration.

Human-made 3D microfliers with a propeller leaf, which was their natural inspiration. F. Frankel

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Researchers at Northwestern University have invented winged microchips or "microfliers, " which are the smallest ever man-made flying structure. They believe that these microfliers, which are about the size of the grains of sand, could someday have important practical applications, such as monitoring airborne diseases and measuring air pollution and contaminants. We spoke with the Northwestern professor who led the research.

GUEST:

John A. Rogers

Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University | Director of the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics

 

 

Prepared for web by Owen Henderson

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