# Gold-Charged Nano-Engines The World's Smallest Engine Could Power Disease-Fighting Micro Robots By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2016-05-06 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/worlds-smallest-engine References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/nanoscale-particle-engine-cambridge/43136/) & [cam.ac.uk](http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/little-ants-researchers-build-the-worlds-tiniest-engine) A group of exceptionally talented and ambitious researchers working out of the [University of Cambridge](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/millirobot) have developed a truly incredible nano-engine that is claimed, with pretty good reason, to be the world's smallest engine. The engine is made out of miniature charged particles of gold. When heated up with a laser, it stores a huge amount of energy that can then be released, with a good analogy being the way a spring absorbs energy and then releases it outwards. This particular [nano-scale engine](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/helical-diodes) isn't merely notable for being the world's smallest engine, as it could be used for a wide variety of applications. For example, it could be used in the development of [microscopic robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mushroom-robot) that could enter the human body and fight viruses and disease. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.3/10 - Popularity: 15% | Activity: 17% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Science](https://www.trendhunter.com/science) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Nano-engine Technology:** Developing and advancing nano-scale engine technology presents opportunities for various applications. - **Micro-robotics:** Using nano-engines in the development of microscopic robots opens up possibilities for fighting diseases at a cellular level. - **Energy Storage Innovations:** Exploring gold-charged nano-engines as energy storage solutions can lead to breakthroughs in energy efficiency and power storage. ### Where This Applies - **Healthcare:** The healthcare industry can benefit from the use of nano-engines in disease-fighting micro robots. - **Technology:** Technological advancements in nano-engine technology can disrupt the robotics industry and lead to new applications. - **Energy:** The energy industry can explore the potential of using gold-charged nano-engines for efficient energy storage solutions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Blood Clot-Relieving Millirobots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/millirobot.md) - [Motorcycle-Inspired Nanocars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nanocar.md) - [Supercharged Rotary Engines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rotary-engine.md) - [Enigmatically Efficient Engines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/efficient-engines.md) - [Multidirectional Miniature Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/multidirectional-miniature-robots.md) - [Lightweight Electric Hypercar Engines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/koenigsegg-quark.md) - [Miniature Flying Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiny-robot.md) - [Cancer-Combatting Engineered Bacteria](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/staphylococcus-epidermidis.md) - [Revolutionary Combustion Engines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/combustion-engine.md)