Tumbleweed-style robot can roll across the prairie — no wind needed
-
-
Bluesky
-
-
-
-
-
X
‘Twirlbot’ can sow seeds along its path. Credit: Chen et al. Sci. Adv. 12, eaeb8948 (2026).
Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe
A light-powered spherical robot the size of a marble can roll autonomously, mimicking a tumbleweed, but one whose path can be controlled with light1.
Access options
Access through your institution
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Learn more
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Learn more
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Learn more
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-01445-4
References
- Chen, C. et al. Sci. Adv. 12, eaeb8948 (2026).
Article
PubMed
Google Scholar
Download references
Subjects
-
Engineering
Latest on:
-
Engineering
-
Robot can beat elite players at table tennis
News & Views 22 APR 26
-
Outplaying elite table tennis players with an autonomous robot
Article 22 APR 26
-
Triple-decker solar cells reach efficiency milestone
News & Views 21 APR 26
Jobs
-
Cancer Biology Research Program Co-Leader
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) Cancer Center and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology have made a strategic decision to expand bas...
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin - Pharmacology and Toxicology Department
-
Associate or Senior Editor BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation and BMC Rheumatology
Job Title: Associate or Senior Editor BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation and BMC Rheumatology Location: New York Application Dead...
New York City, New York (US)
Springer Nature Ltd
-
Global Talent Recruitment Announcement of the College of Engineering, HZAU
Join HZAU's global faculty team to advance research with competitive benefits.
Wuhan, Hubei (CN)
Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU)
-
Postdoc and Postgrad Positions in Computational Biology, Human Genetics, and Molecular Epidemiology
Postdoc and postgrad positions open in Dr. Renato Polimanti’s group at the Yale University School of Medicine.
New Haven, Connecticut
Yale University School of Medicine
-
Administrative Director and Co-CEO, The Cori Graz
The Administrative Director/Co-CEO and Giulio Superti-Furga will jointly lead The Cori research institute under a dual leadership model.
Graz (AT)
Cori Institute of Molecular and Computational Metabolism of the Austrian Academy of Sciences