Last week I read where Engineers at Northwestern University have developed the world’s smallest wireless, battery-free pacemaker—smaller than a grain of rice—that can be injected via syringe and activated by infrared light from a wearable chest patch. This groundbreaking device dissolves harmlessly after use, offering a revolutionary solution for infants with congenital heart defects and other temporary pacing needs. Operating as a galvanic cell, it generates electricity using two metal electrodes and the body’s biofluids, while a light-activated switch allows precise control through external light pulses that penetrate the skin. Led by John A. Rogers and Igor Efimov, this dissolvable technology eliminates the need for surgical removal and could expand to treat arrhythmias or support bioelectronic therapies for nerve healing and pain management, as highlighted in a landmark study published in Nature.

Why should this matter to you?

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

Be well.