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The do-it-yourself centrifuge

Nature Video discovers how a simple toy inspired the design of a high-speed centrifuge made of paper and string.

Published in Bioengineering & Biotechnology

Go to the profile of Pep Pàmies
Pep Pàmies
Chief Editor, Nature Biomedical Engineering, Nature Research
The do-it-yourself centrifuge
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A centrifuge is a vital piece of kit for hospitals and labs across the world. But what if you could make one out of paper and string? The so-called ‘paperfuge’ is the cheapest and fastest hand-spun centrifuge ever designed — and it can reach speeds of up to 125,000 revolutions per minute. Nature Video reveals how this invention will allow basic diagnostic tests in areas without laboratory resources or electricity.

Highlighted Article:

Bhamla, M. S. et al. Hand-powered ultralow-cost paper centrifuge. Nat. Biomed. Eng. 1, 0009 (2017).

News & Views by Meaghan Bond & Rebecca Richards-Kortum: Diagnostics for global health: Hand-spun centrifuge


Go to the profile of Pep Pàmies
Pep Pàmies
Chief Editor, Nature Biomedical Engineering, Nature Research

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Life Sciences > Biological Sciences > Biotechnology

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