Synthetic molecular motors

Okay kiddo, have you ever played with toy cars or trains? Imagine that instead of running on tracks, these toys are tiny and can run on their own. These are called molecular motors.

Now, synthetic molecular motors are very special. They are tiny machines that can move in a certain direction due to an external stimulus, such as light or a change in temperature. They are so small that you can't see the individual molecules with your eyes or even a microscope.

Scientists have figured out ways to build these tiny motors by chemically binding different parts together. Some motors use light to move, and others use changes in temperature or pH levels. They can "walk" along a surface by taking small steps, just like we move forward by walking.

These motors have the potential to be used in many different ways, such as in medicine to deliver drugs to specific areas within the body. They could also be used in electronics to create tiny machines that can run without needing external power sources.

So, synthetic molecular motors are like little machines that move on their own, and scientists want to use them to do important things like deliver medicine or create new technology.