Active nematics is a popular model fluid for active matter. The popularity comes from the fact
that several biological systems involving cells and cytoskeletal elements closely match …

Coupling between flows and material properties imbues rheological matter with its wide-
ranging applicability, hence the excitement for harnessing the rheology of active fluids for …

We investigate the dynamics of mobile inclusions embedded in 2D active nematics. The
interplay between the inclusion shape, boundary-induced nematic order, and autonomous …

Geometric confinement and topological constraints present promising means of controlling
active materials. By combining analytical arguments derived from the Born-Oppenheimer …

Topological defects and defect phases of rigid and flexibly bent-shaped liquid crystals are
reviewed with emphasis on how they are affected by the departure of molecular shapes from …

Dynamics of small particles, both living and inanimate, has fascinated scientists for
centuries. Learning how to control it could open technological opportunities in the …

We numerically model a two-dimensional active nematic confined by a periodic array of
fixed obstacles. Even in the passive nematic, the appearance of topological defects is …

Confinement can be used to systematically tame turbulent dynamics occurring in active
fluids. Although periodic channels are the simplest geometries to study confinement …

Viscous flows are laminar and deterministic. Robust linear laws accurately predict their
streamlines in geometries as complex as blood vessels, porous media and pipe networks …

Topological defects in nematically aligned cell populations play a critical role in modulating
collective motion, ranging from microbial colonies to epithelial tissues. Despite the potential …