Meet the socially distant robot scientist

A robotic scientist – that could increase the pace of scientific discovery – has been developed by researchers at the University of Liverpool.

The technology is part of what the Royal Society of Chemistry has called a new digital age for science.

The organisation says that artificial intelligence and robotics will be vital in keeping research and development – including the search for coronavirus treatments – moving quickly at a time of social distancing, when fewer human scientists will be able to get back into their labs.

Video by Rob Wood, Victoria Gill and Rachael Buchanan