Worm blobs as entangled living polymers: from topological active matter to flexible soft robot collectives

• Published in: Soft matter Vol. 19; no. 37; pp. 757 - 769
• Main Authors: Deblais, Antoine, Prathyusha, K. R, Sinaasappel, Rosa, Tuazon, Harry, Tiwari, Ishant, Patil, Vishal P, Bhamla, M. Saad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 27.09.2023; The Royal Society of Chemistry
• Subjects: Aspect ratio; Chemistry; Entanglement; External stimuli; Physics; Polymer physics; Polymers; Robots; Soft robotics; Tangling; Topology
• ISSN: 1744-683X; 1744-6848; 1744-6848
• DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00542a

Recently, the study of long, slender living worms has gained attention due to their unique ability to form highly entangled physical structures, exhibiting emergent behaviors. These organisms can assemble into an active three-dimensional soft entity referred to as the "blob", which exhibits both solid-like and liquid-like properties. This blob can respond to external stimuli such as light, to move or change shape. In this perspective article, we acknowledge the extensive and rich history of polymer physics, while illustrating how these living worms provide a fascinating experimental platform for investigating the physics of active, polymer-like entities. The combination of activity, long aspect ratio, and entanglement in these worms gives rise to a diverse range of emergent behaviors. By understanding the intricate dynamics of the worm blob, we could potentially stimulate further research into the behavior of entangled active polymers, and guide the advancement of synthetic topological active matter and bioinspired tangling soft robot collectives. Living worms form "blobs," active entangled physical structures with emergent properties. We show how these worms provide a fascinating platform to study active polymer physics.