Tufts develops world's smallest electric motor

Researchers at Tufts University have developed the world's first single molecule electric motor which measures a mere nanometer across.

The invention of this smallest electric motor was published in a paper in Nature Nanotechnology on September 4.

Just to give perspective - a strand of hair measures around 60,000 nanometers.

The scientists at Tufts believe this could lead the way for a new class of devices with uses in medicine and engineering.

Single molecule engines have been used before but they have only been powered either by light or chemicals, never by electricity.

This was achieved via a new low temperature scanning tunneling microscope, which allowed the researchers to power and control the molecule in a more effective way.