All wound up: A reversible molecular whirligig

Over the last few decades, researchers have built minuscule molecular machines that rotate or shuttle other molecules. However, it’s difficult to determine the mechanical work and forces that these tiny contraptions produce, which is important when using them as nanorobots or in artificial muscles. Now, in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers report molecular motors that twist and untwist like whirligig toys—enabling the measurement of the energy and torque of their rotations.Over the last few decades, researchers have built minuscule molecular machines that rotate or shuttle other molecules. However, it’s difficult to determine the mechanical work and forces that these tiny contraptions produce, which is important when using them as nanorobots or in artificial muscles. Now, in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers report molecular motors that twist and untwist like whirligig toys—enabling the measurement of the energy and torque of their rotations.Read More