Browse Physics

With a simple ball and stick model, theorists explain how the two flagella on a swimming alga become synchronized.

Direct measurements show that the fluid flow around swimming microorganisms is more complex than previously thought, with important implications for how they interact and behave.

An alternative to a needle for penetrating cells may be found in the precise and forceful fluid jet created by two bubbles expanding and collapsing in tandem.

Simulations provide insight into how viscous flow transforms the shapes of red blood cells, which may influence their physiological properties.

Some of the most ingenious ideas for designing microfluidic systems come from observing plants and animals. A study that quantifies the protein-driven helical flow of liquid in large plant cells, for instance, may well inspire micron-scale liquid mixers and sensors.