Scientists from Stanford have built a radio as small as an ant that could eventually connect the whole world together.

This isn't the regular radio that allows people to listen to music and news, nor is it the type that allows people to talk to each other.

Instead, this radio will help receive and send signals from around the world; computing, executing, and relaying commands. The world is already connected thanks to the internet. People, however, are becoming dependent on smart gadgets and appliances.

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Thus, the radio will allow objects to connect together as people are given control of gadgets from far away. It functions much like a wireless controller that can be placed within any gadget.

"The next exponential growth in connectivity will be connecting objects together and giving us remote control through the web," said Amim Arbabian, an assistant professor of electrical engineering.

The radio components itself are very cheap, and this new radio can be built for mere pennies.

It has no need for a power source and is extremely energy efficient since it runs on the same electromagnetic waves that carry signals to its antenna. 

Its antenna is small, about one-tenth the size of a Wi-Fi antenna. It operates at a quick rate of 24 billion cycles per second.

It has three chief parts: a receiving antenna that receives electromagnetic waves; a transmitting antenna that relays signals and a central processor that analyzes and executes commands.

The miniaturization led to the reduction of power consumption as well, while also changing the function of the radio.

Arbabian began developing the radio in 2011 while studying for his PhD. His idea was to compress all the electronics to fit on an ant-sized chip.

He was supported by with his wife and a few other faculty members. 

TagsAnt-sized radios, Amim Arbabian