Water Droplet-Powered Computers Could Run small Scientific Labs

A computer made using water and magnets can move droplets around inside itself like clockwork, researchers say. The device demonstrates a new way to merge computer calculations with the manipulation of matter, scientists added.
Whereas conventional microelectronics shuffle electrons around wires, in recent years, scientists have begun developing so-called microfluidic devices that shuffle liquids around pipes. These devices can theoretically perform any operation a conventional electronic microchip can.
Although microfluidic devices are dramatically slower than conventional electronics, the goal is not to compete with electronic computers on traditional computing tasks such as word processing. Rather, the aim is to develop a completely new class of computers to precisely control matter.