Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, has been a fundamental principle in the field of science. However, there are instances where this law seems to break down, leading to confusion among scientists. Interestingly, this phenomenon occurs within the human body.
Human sperm cells, with their unique shape of a blob-like head and long tail, defy the laws of physics simply by existing. Both human sperm cells and the Chlamydomonas algae move by wiggling their tails, known as flagella. This motion, in theory, should be counteracted by the surrounding fluid, causing the cells to remain stagnant. However, the elastic nature of the sperm cells’ flagella enables them to move without losing a significant amount of energy to the environment. This remarkable property, termed the “odd elastic modulus,” challenges Newton’s Third Law and has become a subject of interest in the scientific community since around 2019.
Understanding the precise mechanisms behind the movement of these agile swimmers requires a deep understanding of the intricate processes of evolution. By calculating the odd elastic modulus of various microorganisms, scientists hope to unravel the secrets of how they defy Newton’s laws. Moreover, this knowledge could have practical applications in the development of soft and elastic robots that can harness this non-reciprocal movement.
The research findings on the odd elastic modulus of sperm cells and other microorganisms have been published in a journal called PRX Life. The article can be accessed through this link: [insert link to the article]. This discovery opens up new avenues for scientific exploration and may pave the way for future advancements in various fields, ranging from biomechanics to robotics.
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