Browse Physics

The swimming motion of organisms in complex fluids is hindered by elasticity.

Two different kinds of mechanical stresses explain the unique reversal of rotation during the growth of a fungus, according to a new theory.

A statistical analysis reveals new organizational structure within the genetic code–“superstructures” containing hundreds of genes that appear to have related functions.

Subtle differences in how RNA and DNA behave in solutions may lead to better therapies.

Folds on the surface of soft materials are shown to be a consequence of a nonlinear instability.

A theoretical approach explores the role of shape in the ability of cells to sense environmental changes.

Measurements of microbubbles in blood vessels under ultrasonic exposure show complex behavior that might relate to potential tissue damage.

Building simplified genetic networks in a test tube could help us better understand biological systems.

Allured by the chic perception and higher funding levels of disease-oriented research, many physicists have migrated to cell biology. Does physics really play a dominant role, or is cellular physiology slave to genetics and chemistry?

A temperature effect could allow us to dynamically change the stochastic behavior of certain colloidal particles.

New techniques measure mechanical properties of proteins without damaging them.

Spatial variations can drive evolution in certain ecological habitats.

Accounting for vertical forces leads to a greater understanding of how cells physically interact with soft substrates.

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.

New simulations show that a high concentration of molecules can significantly increase the rate of reaction between two molecules, but does the setup reflect realities of biochemical reactions inside cells?

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.

The answer to why the wings of certain butterflies diffract light in a reverse rainbow spectrum is found in the structure of the wing scales.

The effects of ionizing radiation in an aqueous environment are often calculated in clusters of water molecules, but how well does this approximate the response of a bulk liquid?

A better understanding of human pitch perception has been achieved with an electronic analog of the cochlea.

A simple model explores some of the factors that constrain the shape of rodlike bacteria as they grow.