New Robot Stingray Is Part Biological — It’s Powered by Living Heart Cells

This Robot Stingray Is Powered By Living Heart Cells
Karaghen Hudson and Michael Rosnach

Researchers at Harvard University have created a biohybrid stingray. No larger than the average coin, the ray contains both biological and artificial parts—rat heart cells grown on a silicon mold fitted over a 3D printed gold skeleton. And it can move. Using a technique called optogenetics, the heart cells are genetically modified to contract when they’re hit with a beam of light.

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