Swarms of tiny robots remove microplastics from soil and water
Scientists in the Czech Republic have developed microscopic robots capable of removing microplastics from soil and water. These magnetic, MXene-based microbots navigate through tight spaces to bind with and extract plastic particles.
Why it matters
Microplastic pollution is a pervasive environmental threat; this technology offers a potential solution for cleaning contaminated ecosystems that are otherwise difficult to remediate.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Credit: NPG Asia Materials (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41427-026-00670-7 Microplastics, which are plastic particles under 5 millimeters, are a major and growing threat in both soil and water. They damage soil fertility, disrupt nutrient cycling, harm aquatic and terrestrial life, and can move through the food chain. That makes cleaning them up an urgent priority.
However, that is not an easy task. In soil, for example, these small particles become tightly trapped between soil minerals and organic matter and are exceptionally difficult to extract. But a solution may be on the way.
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