Researchers create World’s tiniest boat that could sail down a human hair

Researchers at the Netherlands’ Leiden University have 3D printed a little boat measuring 30 micrometres, about a third of the thickness of a hair.

The researchers also printed spiral-shaped particles, which rotate along while they are propelled through the water. The 3D-printed boat is part of an exploration of microswimmers like bacteria and sperm.

According to Engadget, The team created the boat because it was “fun,” but also developed more research-specific shapes, including a spiral less than 5 microns in diameter. By tracking the motion, they were able to measure the speed and path of different types of particles.

The 3D printing technique opens the door to the creation of very specific shapes in order to emulate biological microswimmers or optimize their motion through fluids.