Sunshine keeps the world turning. It also helps break down plastic.
A research team from the Czech Republic has developed a micro-robot powered by sunlight due to its composition.
It might be as small as a red blood cell, but its potential to free our oceans from microplastic could be huge. The robot moves through the water at several millimetres per second.
If it comes into contact with microplastic, a chemical reaction occurs and rapidly accelerates decomposition. All the while the robot keeps moving, gathering plastic as it goes.
The technology is still under development but it is hoped one day the robot will be able to collect many different types of plastic.
And, crucially, correctly decompose itself.
Sunny prospects.
