Physics of Living Systems

Physics of Living Systems

eLife reviews research in which approaches from the physical sciences are used to provide insights into the properties of biological systems and processes. Learn more about what we review and sign up for the latest research.
Illustration by Davide Bonazzi

Latest articles

    1. Computational and Systems Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Overflow metabolism originates from growth optimization and cellheterogeneity

    Xin Wang
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    The geometric basis of epithelial convergent extension

    Fridtjof Brauns, Nikolas H Claussen ... Boris I Shraiman
    Active and passive contributions to cell shape change and rearrangements can be distinguished from observed cell geometry, revealing the self-organization mechanisms underlying internally-driven epithelial convergent extension.
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Mapping spatial patterns to energetic benefits in groups of flow-coupled swimmers

    Sina Heydari, Haotian Hang, Eva Kanso
    Fish swimming in groups can either conserve or expend energy during collective movement, depending on their spatial position within the school.
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Q-Learning to navigate turbulence without a map

    Marco Rando, Martin James ... Agnese Seminara
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    1. Neuroscience
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Imaging of brain electric field networks

    Lawrence R Frank, Vitaly L Galinsky ... Antigona Martinez
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Physical constraints and biological regulations underlie universal osmoresponses

    Yiyang Ye, Qirun Wang, Jie Lin
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Fluid mechanics of luminal transport in actively contracting endoplasmic reticulum

    Pyae Hein Htet, Edward Avezov, Eric Lauga
    The viscous hydraulics of contracting endoplasmic reticulum networks challenge common solute transport theories, suggesting the contraction of peripheral sheets as a plausible driving mechanism.
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Escape problem of magnetotactic bacteria - physiological magnetic field strengths help magnetotactic bacteria navigate in simulated sediments

    Agnese Codutti, Mohammad A Charsooghi ... Stefan Klumpp
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    1. Biochemistry and Chemical Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Reversing protonation of weakly basic drugs greatly enhances intracellular diffusion and decreases lysosomal sequestration

    Debabrata Dey, Shir Marciano ... Gideon Schreiber
    Poor intracellular availability and diffusion of weakly basic, small molecule drugs can be greatly enhanced by preventing ion trapping in crowded cellular environments.
    1. Neuroscience
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Wavenumber-dependent transmission of subthreshold waves on electrical synapses network model of Caenorhabditis elegans

    Iksoo Chang, Taegon Chung, Sangyeol Kim
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
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Highlights

    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Flagella: A new kind of beat

    Kirsty Y Wan
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Cancer: Cells under pressure

    Dhiraj Indana, Ovijit Chaudhuri
    1. Physics of Living Systems
    2. Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics

    Modelling biomolecular condensates

    Furqan Dar, Rohit Pappu

Senior editors

  1. Felix Campelo
    The Institute of Photonic Sciences, Spain
  2. Aleksandra Walczak
    Ecole Normale Superieure, France
  3. See more editors