Scientists Develop Diving Suits for Cockroaches, Eyeing Mars Exploration

Scientists at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University have created miniature, 3D-printed suits for cockroaches, complete with tiny oxygen tanks and flexible, waterproof shells. These "cyborg cockroaches" have successfully navigated underwater and through tunnels filled with suffocating CO2 without apparent harm, according to Gizmodo.

The research team, led by Professor Hirotaka Sato, sees potential applications beyond Earth. They believe these enhanced insects could significantly improve search and rescue operations. In 2025, "enhanced" cockroaches were reportedly used in Myanmar after an earthquake to find survivors. With miniature oxygen supplies, they could access even more difficult locations.

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Expanding the operational parameters of our cyborg insects so that they can travel underwater, we believe they will further improve search and rescue operations.

Professor Sato stated in the journal Nature Communications that expanding the operational parameters of these cyborg insects to include underwater travel will further enhance search and rescue efforts. The ultimate goal, he told New Scientist, is to "transfer this technology into space" for missions like exploring the Martian surface.

While robots are often seen as the future of space exploration, cyborg insects offer advantages in energy efficiency and cost. However, space agencies may object to introducing biological matter to other planets, potentially leading to false positives in the search for extraterrestrial life. The team plans to test the suits in extreme conditions mimicking space, including low or high temperatures, vacuum, and intense radiation.

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Our ultimate goal is [to transfer this technology into] space. This is one big step towards space insect suits, for example for exploration on the surface of Mars.