Description
One of the most fascinating features of living matter is its extraordinary dynamics. This is revealed when observing cells under the microscope. They move, they divide and the undergo shape changes. Cells can generate forces and movements. From a materials perspective, cellular matter is soft and liquid-like, but exhibits complex spatio-temporal organization. To understand cells and tissue as complex forms of matter, we need theories that can capture material properties, taking into account active processes, such as the generation of forces and movements. This active matter theory which describes systems driven away from thermodynamic equilibrium by the supply of chemical energy, was developed during the last 20 years. I will give an overview of several biological systems, where active matter theory has advanced our understanding and has motivated new theoretical questions, ranging from active droplets and active surfaces to theoretical approaches for multicellular systems.
