How a wayside weed builds up explosive force to hurl seeds

Hairy bittercress is one of those plants that hurl their seeds in all directions to spread them effectively. A research team has now discovered that to do this, the plant uses a previously unknown mechanism that makes the ...

Researchers show cells communicate by pulling on a fiber network

Mechanics play a larger role in blood vessel formation and other developmental biology than previously thought. Cells appear to respond to mechanical signals, such as pressure. Through the extracellular matrix, a network ...

Artificial muscle fibers could serve as cell scaffolds

In two new studies, North Carolina State University researchers have designed and tested a series of textile fibers that can change shape and generate force like a muscle. In the first study, published in Actuators, the researchers ...

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