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Microorganisms act as tiny machines in future MEMS devices


By Lisa Zyga


MOsforMEMS.gifElectron microscope images of silica-based microshells of several diatom species. Credit: Xiong, et al. Originally from Hildebrand. ©1990 Cambridge University Press.

The single-celled Spirostomum is a tiny brown worm that can contract its 500-micrometer-long body to 25% of its length in a millisecond, making this protozoan the fastest-contracting microorganism known. Scientists think of microorganisms like this as tiny functional machines. After all, many of them have capabilities far surpassing the current state-of-the-art in MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) technology.

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Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 at 05:03PM by Registered CommenterJoel | CommentsPost a Comment

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