Scientists shrink Archimedes’ screw to the size of a single molecule

Scientists have built a groundbreaking molecular motor that spins in either direction using electricity, inspired by a machine invented more than 2,000 years ago. Even more remarkably, its rotation can boost electrical conductivity by up to 100 times, potentially transforming the future of molecular electronics. Scientists shrink Archimedes’ screw to the size of a single molecule.

Com Scientists have developed a remarkable new molecular motor that spins when electricity passes through it. Inspired by an ancient invention, the tiny machine can even reverse its direction when the electrical voltage is switched. The achievement marks an important step toward creating working machines at the smallest possible scale.

Molecular machines are widely seen as a promising next frontier in miniaturization. Nature already provides examples inside living cells, where molecular motors use energy to produce movement. Researchers have spent decades trying to recreate these remarkable biological systems artificially, and progress in this field was recognized with the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.