'World's tiniest boat' small enough sail down the inside of a human hair created by scientists - Daily Mail

A tiny 3D printed boat about a third the thickness of a human hair has been created to follow bacteria known as microswimmers to better understand how they work.

Researchers from Leiden University produced the tiny boat - named Benchy the tugboat - using a new technique that will allow it to swim behind tiny particles.

The team say future 3D printed 'microswimmers' made using their technique could be designed to deliver targeted drugs inside the body or diagnose a condition. .

The team say future 3D printed 'microswimmers' made using their technique could be designed to deliver targeted drugs inside the body or diagnose a condition.

Physicists Rachel Doherty and Daniela Kraft turned to the novel 3D-printed boat in their efforts to understand the microswimmers - small particles found in fluids. .

The team say it is even able to set sail in water - and could follow around the microswimmers in droplets of fluid under a microscope.

The team say using 3D printing techniques allows them to make a range of shapes to find the best design for following real microswimmers through fluid.

Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline

Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline

We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline

You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook