--- title: "Scientists Create Robot to Put Inside Your Body That Looks Like, Um" description: "Scientists have created a bizarre magnetic slime that can be remotely controlled via a magnetic field, New Scientist reports." date: "2022-04-01" modified: "2022-04-01" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/magnetic-slime-inside-body" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Prosthetics and Devices" tags: - "health" - "magnets" - "robots" - "slime mold" --- # Scientists Create Robot to Put Inside Your Body That Looks Like, Um ![Scientists have created a bizarre magnetic slime that can be remotely controlled via a magnetic field, New Scientist reports.]() *\Image: Sun et al.\* It's like "Venom" or "Flubber" come to life. Scientists have created a bizarre magnetic slime that can be remotely controlled via a magnetic field, [*New Scientist* reports](). They're hoping the odd entity could be used to navigate narrow passages inside the human body, likely to collect objects that were mistakenly swallowed. Of course, that's if you're willing to swallow this thing and have it poking around inside of you — video footage of the *thing* certainly doesn't make it look appetizing. In fact, people online are already [cracking potty humor jokes]() about it. https://youtu.be/gUfsFVPVa08 The robot was made by researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who mixed strong neodymium magnets with borax, a common detergent. An encapsulating silicon compound makes sure the slime isn't toxic to the human body. In a test, the team was able to retrieve a battery in a model stomach. The magnetic goo, the researchers say, can be manipulated into a number of different shapes. "You can first elongate it to a very large extent so it looks like a liquid," Li Zhang from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, corresponding author of a [new paper]() about the bot published in the journal *Advanced Functional Materials*, told *New Scientist*. "Then afterwards, you can roll it like an octopus’ arm to carry something." Zhang is hoping that in the future, the slime could be put to work autonomously — an even wilder spin on the already pretty wild idea. **READ MORE:** [Robot made of magnetic slime could grab objects inside your body]() \[*New Scientist*\] **More on magnets:** *[Scientists Discover Strange Tiny Signals Coming From Earth's Core]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()