An active soft condensed matter approach to the Physics of living systems

Abstract

This article aims to introduce the broad field of soft active matter physics and its relevance to the life sciences in simple, accessible language. Although this area of research is relatively new, it has already demonstrated significant potential in providing a physical understanding of many biological processes. While several review articles by leading researchers exist, they can be difficult to grasp for undergraduate students and even early-career researchers who wish to enter this field. In this article, I cover the basics, introduce the origins of soft active matter physics, and explain how it differs from traditional equilibrium condensed matter ideas at the fundamental level. For the most part, I will avoid mathematical equations and excessive technical precision in several statements. Instead, I will focus on communicating the core ideas and the overall spirit of the argument, using everyday examples to develop a physical intuition. The primary focus will be on the dynamical aspects of these systems. I will conclude by briefly discussing a published experimental study from our research group that examines universal features of the trajectories of homing and migrating organisms.