Multimedia Gallery
Real-time predator-prey behavior of silica spheres towards UV-illuminated silver chloride.
Silver chloride colloids (darker objects) are mixed with 2 µm silica spheres (translucent objects) in deionized water. UV-illumination commences three seconds into the film, and the silver chloride begins to move. The inert silica spheres are then seen to seek out and surround the mobile silver chloride particles in much the same way a neutrophil seeks out bacteria. Scientists say autonomous nano-machines could take on similar characteristics, moving independently by harvesting energy from light, glucose or other abundant fuels in biological or organic systems.
Credit: Michael Ibele, Thomas E. Mallouk, and Ayusman Sen
Angew. Chem. 2009
Videos credited to the National Science Foundation, an agency of the U.S. Government, may be distributed freely. However, some materials within the videos may be copyrighted. If you would like to use portions of NSF-produced programs in another product, please contact the Video Team in the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs at the National Science Foundation.
Additional information about general usage can be found in Conditions.
Related story: "Fantastic Voyage" Not So Far-fetched