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The final frontier: scientists 3D print Star Trek’s microscopic spaceship USS Voyager that “ swims ” through liquids by itself
- The team of physicists from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands created the spaceship
- Micro swimmers are tiny particles that can push themselves through liquids
- Research improves understanding of how microswimmers carry drugs around the body
- The team decided to do so as one of the studio’s co-authors is a Star Trek fan
Scientists have 3D printed a microscopic Star Trek USS Voyager spaceship that “swims” by itself through liquids.
A team of physicists from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands created the Intrepid-class starship measuring 15 micrometers (0.015 millimeters) in length.
The Voyager in miniature is part of the research being conducted to help understand how shape affects the movement and interactions of microswimmers.
Microswimmers are tiny particles comparable in size to bacteria that can push themselves through liquids on their own due to chemical reactions.
Scientists 3D printed microscopic Star Trek USS Voyager spaceship that “ swims ” through liquids by itself
They have an outer layer of platinum that reacts with the hydrogen peroxide solution into which they are placed which then moves them through the liquid.
The team decided to replicate the USS Voyager because one of the studio co-authors Jonas Hoecht is a huge Star Trek fan.
Speaking on CNN, study researcher Samia Ouhajji said: “By studying synthetic micro swimmers, we would like to understand biological micro swimmers.”
“This understanding could help develop new vehicles for drug delivery.
“For example, microrobots that swim autonomously and release drugs at the desired location in the human body.”
Scientists found they could print any form of micro-swimmers, including boats and spaceships.
The miniature Voyager is part of the research being conducted to help understand how shape affects the movement and interactions of micro swimmers
The team decided to replicate the USS Voyager (pictured in the series) because one of the studio co-authors Jonas Hoecht is a huge Star Trek fan.
By printing the different shapes, experts can identify the impact that different sizes have on the movement of swimming particles.
The team decided to replicate the USS Voyager after one of the team members revealed that he was a fan of the series.
Researcher Samia explained: ‘In the last week of his project, I promised him that we could print any shape he liked.
As a huge Star Trek fan, he chose the USS Voyager. Furthermore, it was also to show that the type of shapes we can print is almost unlimited. “
In their design, the physicists also printed shapes such as boats, trimers and propellers, with the shape of each object influencing their swimming behaviors.
The study will help understand how micro swimmers can be used to clean sewage or deliver medications to the body.
The experiment will help scientists learn more about biological swimmers, such as sperm and bacteria, and how they travel through the body.
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