A biohybrid hand powered by lab-grown muscle tissues is marking a significant leap forward in robots and prosthetics.

The hand, from researchers at the University of Tokyo and Waseda University, features multiple muscle tissue actuators, bundles of thin strands of cultured muscle tissue, allowing it to contract its fingers to grip objects and form gestures.

These movements that were previously impossible for living tissue-based robots.

The muscle tissue is grown on a 3D-printed plastic base. Electrical currents stimulate the muscles to contract, mimicking natural movement realistically. For now, the hand has to remain suspended in liquid to prevent friction, which would otherwise hinder movement.

Future research will need to overcome this for real-world applications in prosthetics.

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