Surface tension
January 27th, 2009 by rbanks
Micro-Boat Walks the Walk–On Water
"Miniature electrodes at the rear of the thumbnail-size vessel neutralize the surface tension of the water there, thereby allowing tension at the front to tug it forward. An electrode on the side of the boat enables it to steer clockwise. The device moves at a speed of 0.16 inch (four millimeters) per second, or about a foot (30.5 centimeters) every 1.5 minutes. That might seem slow, experts say, but it is in the same league as previously developed devices that rely on surface tension for forward progress." 
Scientific American
