The physics of Life
Living systems are in constant motion, from the inner workings of our cells to the synchronised movements of bird flocks. What sets these systems apart is that they are powered by tiny, energy-consuming components that generate their own movement and forces.
When I was younger, I found it difficult to access resources on living systems, particularly those covering physics or chemistry. At that time, the life sciences encompassed biology, genetics, psychology, and zoology. These days everything has changed, and there is so much resource available. Now, the challenge is identifying high-quality work and accessing it.
The role of physics in the development and functioning of life is now an established paradigm with a growing number of fields notably bioelectricity.
For now, I have the following reference list. It will grow quickly now that I have a clear space to organise them and explore the topic further.
- Living Physics/ Bio Physics
- The Hidden Order of Life: How Nature Breaks Symmetry with Nikta Fakhri. Exploring living systems in constant motion, from the inner workings of our cells to the synchronised movements of bird flocks. What sets these systems apart is that they are powered by tiny, energy-consuming components that generate their own movement and forces.
- The Institute for the Physics of Living Systems (IPLS) addresses important problems in biology across a range of themes from the physics of cancer, time, to states of living matter
- livingphysicsportal resources for teaching introductory physics for life sciences (IPLS)
- (UKRI) Unlocking the physics of life brings physicists and life scientists together to transform our understanding of living systems and medical science challenges.
- Physics of Life 2025 2nd edition of the conference drawing together the diverse UK biological physics community
- (NIH) Physics of Life The book Physics of Life is the first decadal survey of this field, as part of a broader decadal survey of physics. This report communicates the importance of biological physics research
- eLife: Physics of Living Systems eLife reviews research in which approaches from the physical sciences are used to provide insights into the properties of biological systems and processes
- Centre for the Physical Science of Life (Kings College) transform our understanding of life through the innovative power of physical science.
- Biophysics an introduction 2002 by Rodney cotterrill from Wiley (Ou library 574.191 cot):
