Available at http://arxiv.org/abs/1510.08299 Active mechanics reveal molecular-scale force kinetics in living oocytes Authors: Wylie W. Ahmed*, Etienne Fodor*, Maria Almonacid*, Matthias Bussonnier, Marie-Helene Verlhac, Nir S. Gov, Paolo Visco, Frederic van Wijland, Timo Betz Abstract: Unlike traditional materials, living cells actively generate forces at the molecular scale that change their structure and mechanical properties. This nonequilibrium activity is…

Check out our educational materials about how “Cells mix things up by actively stirring their insides” on Science Magazine’s educational website: http://scienceintheclassroom.org/research-papers/cells-mix-things-actively-stirring-their-insides/university

Check out our new review paper on Active Cell Mechanics! http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167488915001767 Abstract: Living cells are active mechanical systems that are able to generate forces. Their structure and shape are primarily determined by biopolymer filaments and molecular motors that form the cytoskeleton. Active force generation requires constant consumption of energy to maintain the nonequilibrium activity to…

Check out our new commentary, “Dynamic cross-links tune the solid–fluid behavior of living cells”! http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/05/14/1507100112.extract?sid=3fd6a1a1-302a-461c-b108-01f4218b9630 Abstract: To keep the mechanical integrity of an organism it seems obvious that cells, as the building blocks, must be solid. Although it is clear that switching to a fluid would be catastrophic for organization of the body, it turns…