Rise of the Colloidal Machines

Explore the fascinating world of digital matter and colloidal machines in this 50-minute conference talk by Sharon Glotzer at the APS March Meeting 2015. Discover how powerful algorithms and fast computers are revolutionizing materials science, engineering, and medicine. Learn about the potential of nano- and micron-sized colloidal particles in designing functional elements for robot-like machines, including colloidal muscles, digital colloidal bits, bionic colloidal assemblies, and colloidal swarms. Delve into the possibilities of creating smart, shape-shifting materials reminiscent of science fiction. Examine the fundamental physics challenges in realizing these smart colloidal materials and machines, and gain insights into the future of programmable matter, self-replication, and evolutionary selection in colloidal robotics.