Using Swimming Microbots to Clean Up Microplastics

There are trillions of plastic pieces floating in our oceans, killing marine animals and even making their way into the food we eat. Something needs to be done, but how do we clean up microplastics when they’re so tiny? This big problem may need a very small solution: microbots. Scientists in the Czech Republic have created one that can swim and collect microplastics. Doug Blackiston, a senior scientist at Tufts University, wasn’t involved with this particular study, but he’s been tackling the plastic problem with living microbots. (Segment produced by Cole Cummings)