This ingenious discovery holds significant potential for many fields of research and could lead to the advancement of mini robotics in the future.In their research study, the team observed that air bubbles within the liquid crystal might move in one direction by changing their sizes periodically, contrary to the in proportion growth or contraction generally seen in air bubbles in other mediums. By introducing air bubbles, comparable in size to a human hair, into the liquid crystal and controling the pressure, the researchers were able to show this amazing phenomenon.From left are Sung-Jo Kim, Professor Joonwoo Jeong, and Research Professor Eujin Um.”Reference: “Symmetrically pulsating bubbles swim in an anisotropic fluid by nematodynamics” by Sung-Jo Kim, Žiga Kos, Eujin Um and Joonwoo Jeong, 9 February 2024, Nature Communications.DOI: 10.1038/ s41467-024-45597-1This research study has been supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Institute of Basic Science (IBS), and the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS).
