British scientists claim to have created what they believe is the world's first intelligent pebble.
The smart stone has been developed to help researchers understand more precisely the processes which can lead to coastal erosion or river flooding. A prototype device has been tested in the laboratory and will undergo trials on a beach and later in two rivers. The idea is that after spending time in the water the pebble will signal its whereabouts, allowing it to be retrieved, and will then give the scientists a detailed history of its movements. The research is being carried out at the universities of Southampton and Lancaster, with funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. One of the project's principal investigators is Dr David Sear, of Southampton University.