Wriggling microtubules help understand coupling of 'active' defects and curvature

Wriggling microtubules help understand coupling of 'active' defects and curvature 10/25/2017 10:42 AM EDT Imagine a tiny doughnut-shaped droplet, covered with wriggling worms. The worms are packed so tightly together that they locally line up, forming a nematic liquid crystal similar to those found in flat panel displays. In the journal Nature Physics, scientists are reporting on an examination of such an active nematic--but with flexible filaments and microscopic engines rather than worms. Full story at http://www.news.gatech.edu/2017/10/22/wriggling-microtubules-help-explain-coupling-active-defects-and-curvature Source Georgia Institute of Technology This is an NSF News From the Field item. Follow NSF:  This email was sent using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: National Science Foundation Update · 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314 · 703-292-5111