Forabot: The Fossil Sorting Robot
This new technology can automate sorting, manipulating and identifying microscopic marine fossils.
- Foraminifera (forams) are very simple microorganisms that secrete a tiny shell.
- They have existed on the ocean floor for more than 100 million years.
- They leave behind their shells when they die.
- Examining these shells gives scientists an insight into the characteristics of the oceans from a time when the forams were alive.
- Different types of foram species thrive in the ocean environment and physical inspection and sorting of forams require human time and effort.
- With an accuracy rate of 67%, Forabot automates this tedious process.
