This DNA Switch Could Control Molecular Machines

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich developed a DNA-based nanoscale switch that remains stable for hours, flips in milliseconds, and successfully completed over 200,000 switching cycles without degradation—solving a long-standing challenge in molecular engineering and opening applications in information processing and chemical reaction control.

Performance varied considerably across devices, with some failing after thousands of cycles; the researchers attribute potential failures to contaminants and surface wear.