Kyoto Team Finds Sperm Use 2023 Odd-Elasticity Model to Bypass Newton’s Third Law
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · May 28
Kyoto Team Finds Sperm Use 2023 Odd-Elasticity Model to Bypass Newton’s Third Law
1 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · May 28
Human sperm and Chlamydomonas data showed flagella can sustain traveling waves in highly viscous fluid by using internal energy, letting the cells keep moving where reversible strokes would fail.
Kyoto University mathematician Kenta Ishimoto’s team argues the effect comes from “odd elasticity” — a non-reciprocal response in active living material that makes action and reaction appear asymmetric in an open system.
The researchers built an “odd elastohydrodynamics” framework and an odd-elastic modulus to separate fluid drag from the flagellum’s internal mechanics, finding active forces generate the wave while passive elasticity helps stabilize it.
Published in PRX Life on Oct. 11, 2023, the work could broaden understanding of cell locomotion and inform designs for artificial microswimmers, soft materials and self-assembling micro-robots.
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