Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
*Apply to join Foresight Molecular Machines program:* foresight.org/focus-areas/nanotechnology
A group of scientists, entrepreneurs, and institutional allies who cooperate to advance molecular machines, applications in energy, medicine, and material science, and long-term progress toward Richard Feynman’s vision of nanotechnology.
*Fluid Flows Act As Machines That Autonomously Assemble Hierarchical 3D Structures*
Abstract: The inherent coupling of chemical and mechanical behavior in fluid-filled micro-chambers enables the fluid to act as a “machine” as it autonomously directs the self-organization of objects immersed in the solution. Using theory and simulations, we show that the combination of diffusioosmotic and buoyancy mechanisms produce the respective, independently-controlled fluid flows: one generated by a confining surface and the other in the bulk of the solution. With both flows present, the fluid can autonomously join two-dimensional, disconnected pieces to a chemically active, “sticky” base and then fold the resulting layer into regular three-dimensional shapes (e.g., pyramids, tetrahedrons, and cubes).
Here, the fluid itself performs the construction work and thus, this process does not require extensive external machinery. If several sticky bases are localized on the bottom surface, the process can be parallelized, with the fluid simultaneously forming multiple structures of the same or different geometries.
Hence, this approach can facilitate the relatively low-cost, mass production of 3D micron to millimeter sized structures. Formed in an aqueous solution, the assembled structures could be compatible with biological environments, and thus, potentially useful in medical and biochemical applications.
Bio: Anna C. Balazs is a Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and holds the John A. Swanson Endowed Chair in Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. She received her B.A. in physics from Bryn Mawr College and her Ph.D. in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981. Balazs is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Materials Research Society. She received the Gutenberg Research Award, Mainz
Germany (2025), American Physical Society Polymer Physics Prize (2016), the Royal Society of Chemistry S F Boys-A Rahman Award (2015), the American Chemical Society Langmuir Lecture Award (2014) and the Mines Medal from the South Dakota School of Mines (2013). She is a member of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Engineering.
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*About The Foresight Institute*
The Foresight Institute is a research organization and non-profit that supports the beneficial development of high-impact technologies. Since our founding in 1986 on a vision of guiding powerful technologies, we have continued to evolve into a many-armed organization that focuses on several fields of science and technology that are too ambitious for legacy institutions to support. From molecular nanotechnology, to brain-computer interfaces, space exploration, cryptocommerce, and AI, Foresight gathers leading minds to advance research and accelerate progress toward flourishing futures.
*We are entirely funded by your donations. If you enjoy what we do please consider donating through our donation page:* foresight.org/donate
*Visit* https://foresight.org, *subscribe to our channel for more videos or join us here:*
*• Twitter:* twitter.com/foresightinst
*• Facebook:* facebook.com/foresightinst
*• LinkedIn:* linkedin.com/company/foresight-institute
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*Timecodes*
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:17 Chemically Generated Fluid Flow Machines
01:13 Hierarchical Assembly and Fluid Dynamics
01:57 Patterning Fluid Flow for 3D Structures
02:24 Two Stories of Fluid-Driven Assembly
03:08 Mechanics of Fluid Flow and Buoyancy
07:54 Modeling and Simulation of Fluid Dynamics
10:04 Experimental Validation and Applications
12:24 Dynamic Self-Organization and Assembly
15:33 Combining Buoyancy and Diffuse Osmosis
17:11 Fault Tolerance in Self-Assembly
18:48 Creating Functional Structures
19:42 Enzymatic Reactions and Fluid Flow
22:02 Synthetic Celia and Motion Patterns
25:28 Unique Fingerprints and Patterns
26:36 Sequential Addition of Reactants
27:29 Design Rules for Beautiful Patterns
29:40 Dynamic Behavior of Catalysts
33:48 Communication Between Passive and Active Objects
36:43 Reversible Self-Assembly
41:05 Future Applications and Scaling Challenges
44:06 Q&A Session
*Apply to join Foresight Molecular Machines program:* foresight.org/focus-areas/nanotechnology
A group of scientists, entrepreneurs, and institutional allies who cooperate to advance molecular machines, applications in energy, medicine, and material science, and long-term progress toward Richard Feynman’s vision of nanotechnology.
*Fluid Flows Act As Machines That Autonomously Assemble Hierarchical 3D Structures*
Abstract: The inherent coupling of chemical and mechanical behavior in fluid-filled micro-chambers enables the fluid to act as a “machine” as it autonomously directs the self-organization of objects immersed in the solution. Using theory and simulations, we show that the combination of diffusioosmotic and buoyancy mechanisms produce the respective, independently-controlled fluid flows: one generated by a confining surface and the other in the bulk of the solution. With both flows present, the fluid can autonomously join two-dimensional, disconnected pieces to a chemically active, “sticky” base and then fold the resulting layer into regular three-dimensional shapes (e.g., pyramids, tetrahedrons, and cubes).
Here, the fluid itself performs the construction work and thus, this process does not require extensive external machinery. If several sticky bases are localized on the bottom surface, the process can be parallelized, with the fluid simultaneously forming multiple structures of the same or different geometries.
Hence, this approach can facilitate the relatively low-cost, mass production of 3D micron to millimeter sized structures. Formed in an aqueous solution, the assembled structures could be compatible with biological environments, and thus, potentially useful in medical and biochemical applications.
Bio: Anna C. Balazs is a Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and holds the John A. Swanson Endowed Chair in Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. She received her B.A. in physics from Bryn Mawr College and her Ph.D. in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981. Balazs is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Materials Research Society. She received the Gutenberg Research Award, Mainz
Germany (2025), American Physical Society Polymer Physics Prize (2016), the Royal Society of Chemistry S F Boys-A Rahman Award (2015), the American Chemical Society Langmuir Lecture Award (2014) and the Mines Medal from the South Dakota School of Mines (2013). She is a member of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Engineering.
══════════════════════════════════════
*About The Foresight Institute*
The Foresight Institute is a research organization and non-profit that supports the beneficial development of high-impact technologies. Since our founding in 1986 on a vision of guiding powerful technologies, we have continued to evolve into a many-armed organization that focuses on several fields of science and technology that are too ambitious for legacy institutions to support. From molecular nanotechnology, to brain-computer interfaces, space exploration, cryptocommerce, and AI, Foresight gathers leading minds to advance research and accelerate progress toward flourishing futures.
*We are entirely funded by your donations. If you enjoy what we do please consider donating through our donation page:* foresight.org/donate
*Visit* https://foresight.org, *subscribe to our channel for more videos or join us here:*
*• Twitter:* twitter.com/foresightinst
*• Facebook:* facebook.com/foresightinst
*• LinkedIn:* linkedin.com/company/foresight-institute
══════════════════════════════════════
*Timecodes*
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:17 Chemically Generated Fluid Flow Machines
01:13 Hierarchical Assembly and Fluid Dynamics
01:57 Patterning Fluid Flow for 3D Structures
02:24 Two Stories of Fluid-Driven Assembly
03:08 Mechanics of Fluid Flow and Buoyancy
07:54 Modeling and Simulation of Fluid Dynamics
10:04 Experimental Validation and Applications
12:24 Dynamic Self-Organization and Assembly
15:33 Combining Buoyancy and Diffuse Osmosis
17:11 Fault Tolerance in Self-Assembly
18:48 Creating Functional Structures
19:42 Enzymatic Reactions and Fluid Flow
22:02 Synthetic Celia and Motion Patterns
25:28 Unique Fingerprints and Patterns
26:36 Sequential Addition of Reactants
27:29 Design Rules for Beautiful Patterns
29:40 Dynamic Behavior of Catalysts
33:48 Communication Between Passive and Active Objects
36:43 Reversible Self-Assembly
41:05 Future Applications and Scaling Challenges
44:06 Q&A Session
