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A laboratory in Japan has implemented robotic systems to perform scientific experiments autonomously, representing a shift in how research is conducted. Researchers at the facility are working toward an ambitious goal of expanding to thousands of independent robots by 2040. This automation allows robots to execute experimental procedures without direct human supervision.
Why it matters
Automated robotic laboratories could significantly accelerate the pace of scientific discovery by running experiments continuously and systematically. This approach may help address reproducibility challenges in science and free researchers to focus on experimental design and interpretation rather than manual execution.
Nature, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01625-2
Researchers hope to build a facility with thousands of robots capable of performing experiments independently by 2040.
Source: Robots run this laboratory in Japan — and are changing how scientists work