A Magnetic 'Turd'?

Researchers at Hong Kong University have devised a magnetic slime robot, labelled by wits, as a 'magnetic turd'. This robot is made by combining polyvinyl alcohol with borax and then adding particles of neodymium magnet (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/apr/01/magnetic-turd-scientists-invent-moving-slime-that-could-be-used-in-human-digestive-systems). The robot is a moving slime, controlled by magnets, that is capable of encircling smaller objects. The magnetic slime has enormous deformation properties and can squeeze and travel through narrow spaces. One potential application, is that the 'magnetic turd' could be used to retrieve accidentally-swallowed items, like lithium batteries. Lithium batteries are becoming pretty ubiquitous, being, for example, incorporated into electronic greeting cards and toys. They are often swallowed by children and can be very damaging. The slime robot could be used to encapsulate batteries, preventing leaching of dangerous chemicals, before these devices are passed out of the body.