Open educational media
One-line captions for embeds and link lists. Prefer lectures and lab demos over hype reels.
Suggested homepage media strip
- Kilobot swarm video — visible, exciting, algorithmic.
- Shih iBiology origami lecture — serious science, free.
- Claytronics hub — aspirational programmable matter (pair with honesty note).
DNA nanotechnology & origami
| Link | Caption |
|---|---|
| iBiology nanofabrication hub | William Shih (Harvard) lecture hub: nanofabrication via DNA origami & bricks. |
| Shih Part 1 on YouTube | Scaffolded DNA origami explained for scientists-in-training. |
| Rothemund 2006 author PDF | Primary figures of iconic DNA origami shapes. |
| Ke/Yin DNA bricks PDF | Voxel-style 3D DNA assembly. |
| Rothemund Lab research | Context for origami and molecular devices. |
| MIT News DNA origami | Accessible narrative on DNA origami design tools. |
Swarm robotics & Kilobots
| Link | Caption |
|---|---|
| Thousand-Kilobot demo | Harvard programmable self-assembly demo (companion to Science 2014). |
| Introduction to Kilobot | Platform basics for swarm beginners. |
| SEAS news explainer | Plain-language story of the 1,024-robot flash mob. |
| Creative Machines Lab — particle robotics | Particle robotics overview and visuals (Nature 2019). |
Programmable matter & modular robots
| Link | Caption |
|---|---|
| CMU Claytronics hub | Classic programmable-matter vision and papers. |
| Goldstein et al. 2005 page | IEEE Computer programmable matter page + PDF link. |
| Kirby et al. Catoms PDF | Moving modules without traditional motors. |
| Seo/Paik/Yim review | Modular reconfigurable robotics review (publisher page). |
Classroom / tabletop demos
| Link | Caption |
|---|---|
| UCSD MRSEC experimental self-assembly | Education activities for experimental self-assembly. |
| FloaTiles project | Capillary / Cheerios-effect floating tile project. |
| FloaTiles on GitHub | Code/designs for remixing classroom kits. |
| FunSize Physics activity | Print/activity pointer related to self-assembly demos. |
Theory & papers (readable open copies)
| Link | Caption |
|---|---|
| Doty CACM author PDF | CS-friendly algorithmic self-assembly survey. |
| Jacobs & Rogers 2024 arXiv | DNA-programmed colloidal assembly review (HTML available). |
| MRR mechanisms preprint | Modular reconfigurable robots mechanisms survey. |
| Whitesides course PDF | “Self-Assembly at All Scales” course-hosted copy. |
Verified embeds used in Beginners / Manufacturing
These IDs were checked via YouTube oEmbed / public watch pages (2026-09-15). Do not invent IDs.
| ID | Title | Used on |
|---|---|---|
mbKAwk-OG_w | The Cheerios Effect (Be Smart) | Beginners Ch.1 |
xK54Bu9HFRw | Harvard thousand-Kilobot swarm | Ch.1, Ch.4, Ch.5, home |
wrDdqjQvaoA | Particle Robotics (Columbia Engineering) | Ch.2 |
Ek-FDPymyyg | Shih iBiology DNA origami Part 1 | Ch.3 |
noWkRxKYBhU | Shih Part 2 DNA bricks (linked) | Ch.3 |
ISMwLCFwgK4 | Introduction to Kilobot | Ch.4 |
6aZbJS6LZbs | MIT M-Blocks self-assembling cubes | Ch.4 |
ljOoGyCso8s | Inside a Huge PCB Factory (Strange Parts) | Manufacturing, Supply chain |
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