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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."

4 of 11 comments (clear)

  1. 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 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
    2. 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
    3. 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.