Active solids sync up

Article Physics, Multidisciplinary

Motile dislocations knead odd crystals into whorls

Ephraim S. Bililign et al.

Summary: The study demonstrates that adding transverse forces to an ensemble of colloidal spinners can organize them into odd elastic crystals, featuring self-propelled defects that create a 'self-kneading' crystal whorl state. The use of rotations allows for effective control of mass transport, showing the generic nature of this crystal state.

NATURE PHYSICS (2022)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Odd dynamics of living chiral crystals

Tzer Han Tan et al.

Summary: Researchers have discovered that swimming starfish embryos can spontaneously assemble into chiral crystals that persist for hours. The formation, dynamics, and dissolution of these living crystals are controlled by the hydrodynamic properties and natural development of the embryos. The living chiral crystals exhibit self-sustained chiral oscillations and unconventional deformation response behaviors, providing direct experimental evidence for the role of non-reciprocal interactions between multicellular organisms in non-equilibrium phases of chiral active matter.

NATURE (2022)

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Article Physics, Multidisciplinary

Selective and collective actuation in active solids

P. Baconnier et al.

Summary: This study introduces a minimal realization of an active elastic solid and characterizes the emergence of selective and collective actuation resulting from the interplay between activity and elasticity. The bifurcation scenario and selection mechanism by which the collective actuation takes place are unveiled through experiments and theoretical analyses.

NATURE PHYSICS (2022)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Viscoelastic control of spatiotemporal order in bacterial active matter

Song Liu et al.

Summary: Active matter is composed of units that generate mechanical work by consuming energy, such as living systems and biopolymers. The goal is to understand and control the self-organization in space and time. Most active systems exhibit spatial order or temporal synchronization, while simultaneous control of spatial and temporal organization requires complex interactions.

NATURE (2021)

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Article Physics, Multidisciplinary