Manu Prakash (Stanford University) will give a talk intitled “Fast and furious: What we can learn from extreme limits in biological systems”.

Biological systems often operate at extremes. Studying these extremes allows us to better understand the operating limits of living systems. With direct examples by studying some of the fastest cells in nature, to single cells and epithelium that undergoes extreme deformations to single cells that take the longest journeys in the deep ocean with extreme variations in ecological conditions – we will explore the landscape of cellular extremities. Along the way, I will highlight new physical principles at play that underpin the world of extreme biophysics.