ScienceAugust 17, 2026
biobots
BY-oh-bots
Definition
Microscopic, synthetic or semi-synthetic robots that incorporate living biological components—in this case, bacteria—to perform autonomous tasks.
Etymology
A portmanteau of the Greek-derived prefix 'bio-' (relating to life) and the word 'robot', the latter originating from the Czech word 'robota' meaning forced labor or servitude, first introduced by Karel Čapek in his 1920 play R.U.R.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the living, magnetically-steered bacterial swarms designed to capture and remove plastic particles from water. Using 'biobots' emphasizes that these aren't just mechanical tools, but living organisms repurposed as technology.
Czech Scientists Create Living Microrobot Swarms That Trap Microplastics
Read the full article ↗Intelligent Living