Active Matter Goes Smart

Research Project, 2020 – 2025

The research belongs to a branch of physics called active matter. These are materials made up of active particles, which convert energy in their immediate surroundings into movement.

Naturally active particles can not only move; they can also react to signals from their surroundings and adapt their behavior to achieve certain goals – such as swimming in rough water, searching for food or moving toward, or away from, a concentration of a chemical. Interactions between active particles can give rise to the complex collective behaviors we see in plankton, fish, birds and other organisms. This research project involves creating artificial active microparticles modeled on their natural counterparts.