A team of researchers and students at the University of California, Riverside has created a Lego-like system of blocks that enables users to custom build chemical and biological research instruments. The system of 3D-printed blocks can create a variety of scientific tools.
The blocks, which are called Multifluidic Evolutionary Components (MECs) appeared in the journal PLOS ONE. Each block in the system performs a basic lab instrument task (pumping fluids, making measurements or interfacing with a user, for example). Since the blocks are designed to work together, users can build apparatus — like bioreactors for making alternative fuels or acid-base titration tools for high school chemistry classes — rapidly and efficiently. The blocks are especially well suited for resource-limited settings, where a library of blocks can create a variety of different research and diagnostic tools.
The project is led by graduate student [Douglas Hill] along with assistant professor [William Grover] and the work was funded by the National Science Foundation. You can see a video describing the blocks, below. Here at Hackaday, we’re no strangers to biohacking. Chemistry, too, comes up in a lot of interesting electronics contexts, including solar cell research.
I think this is a wonderful idea and it looks like it will do so well in education.
BUT
inches mercury, cough, SI units, cough, cough, science???
America.
Yeah, I know.
Don’t get it. Why does this article make one want to cough?
Murica! Yay!
‘LEGOS’ in the video title is worse.
since no actual component is being printed it seems you could do any of this far easier without the blocks and board.
So they printed some peg board? This is news?
Take into account the IQ of the intended audience.
Hey, Not fair! My IQ *IS* larger than mu shoe size!!!!
Mine isn’t!
(I have very large feet)