The materials from which life is built are typically soft, adaptable and active. In order to study them, we need model materials with similar properties. Based on new insights into a complex material class called elasto-viscoplastics, which includes toothpaste, I propose to develop a new class of active elasto-viscoplastics (A-EVP). These materials could mimic natural life processes like cell migration and embryo development. I will integrate advanced experiments and simulations to develop a mechanical framework, enhancing our understanding of biological mechanics and advancing the creation of innovative, bio-inspired materials like smart 3D-printed and autonomous active matter.

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De "Workshop over Viscoplastische Vloeistoffen," georganiseerd door de Universiteit van Amsterdam, brengt internationale onderzoekers samen om materialen te bestuderen die zich zowel als vaste stof als vloeistof gedragen onder stress. De bijeenkomst vindt plaats van 30 juni tot 4 juli 2025 en bevordert open science via toegankelijke discussies en online bronnen. Deelnemers uit de academische wereld en industrie streven naar interdisciplinaire samenwerking en beter begrip en toepassingen in energie, voeding, geofysica en biomedicine.

Complexity comes in many forms, but nature often makes use of what sounds like a very human principle: don’t reinvent the wheel. In the past few years, a new idea has taken shape which connects the seemingly unrelated fields of string theory and high temperature superconductivity. This project explores a newly discovered thread that may unravel the inner working of the mysterious strange metal state of high temperature superconductors with experiments.

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