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The Human Meat Mole

Posted by Hemos on from the drilling-through-meat dept.

webword writes "SciTech Daily is reporting on a 'mole' that Japanese scientists have developed that can cut through a 2cm thick chunk of beef steak in 20 seconds. The tiny machines could be injected into a vein, and could be steered around the body using an external magnetic field. The idea is to use them to remove cancerous tissue and move drugs around the body. Not that anyone cares, but they remind me of the bore worms from Flash Gordon."

11 comments

  1. Re:Excuse me... by h2odragon · · Score: 1
    "subdermal chain mail"

    ...radio control...

    the splatter movie possibilities here are endless, I think.

  2. Excuse me... by PD · · Score: 2

    If there's a little robot inside my arteries I think I'd rather that it DIDN'T have the capability to cut through meat. That could play real havoc with various sphincters I think. Suppose the things takes it's bearings, discovers it's in the heart, but really wanted to be in my liver. The most direct route might not be the one that is the best.

    On the other hand, it would be cool to attach a little wire to this thing and have it run around my torso and limbs just under the surface of the skin. Voila! My very own subdermal chain mail! That would be very cool.

    --
    If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
    1. Re:Excuse me... by Kris_J · · Score: 1
      The quickest way to a man's heart is between the 2nd and 3rd rib, angled slightly upwards.

      --

    2. Re:Excuse me... by Shotgun · · Score: 2
      On the other hand, it would be cool to attach a little wire to this thing and have it run around my torso and limbs just under the surface of the skin. Voila! My very own subdermal chain mail! That would be very cool.


      Damn. Here I am, afraid to let a guy stick me with a needle for a tattoo, and you go on about letting a robot drag wire under your skin. DAMN! That would have to hurt, especially after the little sucker turned a corner and tried to drag the wire with it. OUCH!

      --
      Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
      Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba
    3. Re:Excuse me... by Shotgun · · Score: 2
      Such a robot would remove the need for Viagra though....

      Ummm. Having a woody 24/7. Wait. No thanks. I have that now 8*)

      --
      Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
      Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba
    4. Re:Excuse me... by smaughster · · Score: 1

      Such a robot would remove the need for Viagra though....

      --
      I intend to live forever, so far so good.
    5. Re:Excuse me... by Mhrmnhrm · · Score: 2

      I think I would have to agree with this... As with any technology, the possibility of misuse/abuse is always present... I can just see these things being used as a weapon... release them into the air, and let them run around wherever they like unguarded. Truly the equivalent of a mechanical ebola, if even a couple of these got into a person, then began chewing "World is not enough" James Bond style. Their potential for good (cancer removal, artery roto-rooter, etc) is tremendous, but is this really a pandora's box we want opened?

      --
      I suspect that one of these choices is incorrect. Correct.
  3. NO!! by The+Gline · · Score: 1

    Not the Bore Worms!

    It's funnier when Ornella Muti says it, I guess.

    --
    Honorary Member of Jackie Chan's Kung Fu Process Servers
  4. Reminds me of "cookie cutters" by phr1 · · Score: 1

    from Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age. Cookie cutters were little nanoexplosives that could circulate in your bloodstream, used for executions and assassinations. They contained a pair of discs spinning furiously in opposite directions. On an external signal, the discs would split apart, making a mess of your insides.

  5. For a little perspective.... by NickFusion · · Score: 1

    A scaple can cut through 2 cm of beefsteak in considerably less that 20 seconds.

    Hate to dissapoint the techno-conspiracy nuts, but this sounds like this is just another (groovy) new tool.

    --
    What were you expecting?
  6. It can be abused; so what? by Zangief · · Score: 1

    Technology has to advance. Lots of fields in science snd technology are abusable, so we have to stop development in these areas? (I think even weapon development shouldn't be stopped...someday martians will come back, and won't be happy with the martian McDonalds...)

    So, move mole! for great justice!