Researchers have clarified the conditions under which large numbers of ‘squishy’ grains, which can change their shape in response to external forces, transition from acting like a solid to acting like a liquid. Similar transitions occur in many biological processes, including the development of an embryo: cells are ‘squishy’ biological ‘grains’ that form solid tissues and sometimes flow to form different organs. Thus, the experimental and theoretical framework elaborated here will help separate the roles of mechanical and biochemical processes, a critical challenge in biology.
What makes large numbers of ‘squishy’ grains start flowing
