00:00Scientists have built a motor so small, it's made of a single molecule.
00:04It's inspired by the Archimedes screw, one of the oldest machines in history.
00:08That ancient device used a spiral to lift water.
00:11This version uses a spiral-shaped molecule, just a few millionths of a millimeter long.
00:17Researchers suspended single molecules between two gold tips sharpened to atomic size.
00:22When they applied voltage, the molecule began to spin.
00:25When they flipped the voltage, it spun the other way.
00:28It's the first current-driven molecular motor, wired to two electrodes with controllable direction.
00:34Electrons flowing through the spiral push it around, like wind turning a turbine.
00:39Simulations then revealed a surprise.
00:41As it rotates, its electrical conductivity can jump as much as 100 times.
00:46The work involved teams in Denmark, Israel, and Germany.
00:50Machines at the smallest possible scale just took a real step forward.
00:54Disclosure.
00:54This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
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