According to the researchers, the manipulation of matter on this scale has never before been observed and they've dubbed this phenomenon of remotely moving and assembling the nanotubes "Teslaphoresis."

As a nod to the technique of electrophoresis, a method used in laboratories to separate macromolecules using an applied charge to move proteins about, the Teslaphoresis moniker refers to a similar ability to move matter remotely with Tesla-coil electric fields.

"Electric fields have been used to move small objects, but only over ultrashort distances," says Rice University chemist Paul Cherukuri. "With Teslaphoresis, we have the ability to massively scale up force fields to move matter remotely. It is such a stunning thing to watch these nanotubes come alive and stitch themselves into wires on the other side of the room."