All living organisms need heavy metals like zinc and iron to survive and properly function. But increasingly, metals from industrial waste, mining, landfills, and even overcrowded cemeteries are leaching into the environment and contaminating it. Exposure to heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead—even at low concentrations—can seriously threaten human health and the planet’s biodiversity.
One solution to this type of contamination may be tiny robots. In a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, researchers at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague have created magnetic, temperature-sensitive nanorobots that can pick up and dispose of pollutants in water.
In recent years, scientists have been greatly interested in harnessing nanotechnology to address water pollution and wastewater treatment. Conventional water treatment systems often require multiple, complicated steps to clear contaminants out of water. And many of these steps leave behind many pollutants like metals. Some novel nanomaterials get around this problem by utilizing a high surface-to-volume ratio and by targeting specific toxins.
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