Ordering by Motion

User rating: 4.3 / 5 after 12 vote(s)

Two snapshots of rodlike 64257laments (blue) on a surface coated with immobilized molecular motors (yellow). (a) At low motor surface density the 64257laments display no order. (b) Above a threshold value for the motor density the 64257laments sponta ...
Two snapshots of rodlike filaments (blue) on a surface coated with immobilized molecular motors (yellow). (a) At low motor surface density the filaments display no order. (b) Above a threshold value for the motor density, the filaments spontaneously order into a parallel pattern. This "active nematic ordering" is caused by the interplay of filament collisions and their motor-driven motion. Image: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
The molecules within the living cell sustain a high degree of spatial order even though they are constantly in motion. This seems to defy basic physical principles which stress the strong interplay between motion and disorder. Indeed, the simplest way to increase the motion of molecules is by heating which leads to the melting of crystals and the evaporation of liquids, i.e., to the destruction of spatial order.


Full story »
All News summaries from Nanotechnology news
All News summaries for July 24, 2006
Goto Archive PhysOrg Forum Goto Archive Video Goto Archive Editorials Goto Archive Free Magazines Goto Archive Newsletter

News Archive