Chinese Scientists created a robotic fish that will benefit marine pollution

Marine pollution affects human health, the environment, the marine life of all organisms, and the economic structure worldwide. Historically, there have been few improvements made to combat marine pollution but now scientists are doing something about it. Chinese scientists, from the Sichuan University, in southwest China, have created a Robot fish that could clear our most polluted oceans. 

This robot is guided by light, is 1.3 centimeters (0.5 inches) in size, and can heal itself. an inbuilt feature of these robotic fish helps them eat microplastics from the water body they are kept in. The main objective of the robotic fish is to provide information for analyzing marine pollution in real-time. The team behind the robot is working on developing the ability to dive deeper. In hopes to take more microplastics out of the sea as the robot has only been tested in shallow water. 

One of the researchers who worked on the robot, Wang Yuyan has said,  "We developed such a lightweight miniaturized robot so that it can be used in many ways, for example in biomedical or hazardous operations, such a small robot that can be localized to a part of your body to help you eliminate some disease."

The body of the robotic fish has molecules that are negatively charged, it attracts parts of the microplastics that are positively charged, giving it the description of being 'sticky.' In the circumstance that the robot is eaten, no fish will suffer because it is made from polyurethane, which is biocompatible. 

Oceans are highly polluted by 2 main things, trash, and chemicals. Garbage that is in the oceans becomes a danger for both humans and animals, some animals mistake plastic bags for food and become injured, while small organisms can consume microplastics, and those small organisms get eaten by large animals. Toxic chemicals then become part of those tissues and eventually those microplastics climb up to the food chain and are eaten by humans. 

The main role of the fish right now is to absorb pollutants but further research and tests will advance the robotic fish allowing it to travel the seafloor. 

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