"peanut" particles.

"peanut" can be used to build micro sized factories. The peanuts are propelled by light and steered by magnets. They are able to carry cargo that is really heavy and transport it. This could also be used to create artificial muscles. These peanut particles are called colloidal particles. This is made from hematite which is a magnetic iron oxide. they can come in many shapes but scientist focused on the peanut ones. To make them respond better to light the scientists etched them and made them have a rough outside. In the experiment the scientists put the particle in a solution with hydrogen peroxide. When a blue light was shined on it they particles got up to the surface. With magnetic fields they were able to steer the particle in the direction they wanted to go. The scientists said that when the light was shined the hydrogen peroxide turned into water and oxygen creating unbalanced osmotic pressure which makes a flow that propels the particle. This could potentially be used to make robotic arms and other machines to be used in factories.