Presenter: Dr. Arnold JTM Mathijssen, Stanford University

ONLINE COLLOQUIUM ONLY

Zoom Link: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/j/404208512

Abstract: Biological systems flourish through collective functionality, by self-assembling into cells, tissues, flocks and parliaments. Understanding this multi-scale organization also lies at the heart of modern engineering and medicine: Pathologies can arise from deficiencies in collective functionality, while active and adaptive materials can be designed from controlling systems out of equilibrium. In this talk, I will overview our recent work on building first-principle theories, numerical tools, and experiments for studying the fascinating physics of life. We will first focus on reliable communication in ultra-fastbiology, exemplified by the discovery of ‘hydrodynamic trigger waves’ [1]. Second, we will discuss bacterial contamination dynamics, which is enhanced by the ability of cells to swim against flows [2]. Third, we consider the role of topology in biofunctionality, especially in ‘active carpets’ like ciliary arrays [3]. These insights open up exciting new avenues towards unravelling synthetic and biological active matter, through collective functionality, together.
[1.] Mathijssen AJTM, Culver J, Bhamla MS, Prakash M, “Collective intercellular communication through ultra-fast hydrodynamic trigger waves,” Nature 571, 560-564 (2019)
[2.] Mathijssen AJTM, Figueroa-Morales N, Junot G, Lindner A, Clement E, Zöttl A, “Oscillatory surface rheotaxis of swimming E. coli bacteria,” Nat. Comm. 10, 3434 (2019)
[3.] Ramirez-San Juan G, Mathijssen AJTM, He M, Jan L, Marshall WF, Prakash M, “Multi-scale heterogeneity enhances mucus clearance in mouse airways”, Nat. Phys., accepted (2020)

Colloquium Host: Noel Clark