Title: Microscopic Insights into the Mechanics of Granular Materials Abstract: The widespread occurrence of granular materials in nature (like soil and beach sand) and industries (such as cement and pharmaceuticals) has spurred extensive research into their mechanical behavior. Key phenomena, such as stress saturation with depth, rate-independent shear stress, and large stress fluctuations, are well documented. Our study, based on…

Title: Connecting Molecules and Forces with Rings and Loops Abstract: Animal cell shape is dictated by the actomyosin cytoskeleton, including the membrane-apposed cortex. The molecular parts list of the cortex is well-characterized, and included the dynamic F-actin polymers, myosin family motor proteins, and myriad non-motor crosslinkers that scaffold the cytoskeleton, the membrane, and regulatory proteins.…