# gst: "diffusing wave paradox", synthetic microswimmers can mimic the behavior of Amoeba

<< Amoeba are unusual creatures that form when a dispersed population of cells spontaneously comes together and reorganizes itself into a multicellular macroscopic organism. To do this, a few leader cells emit chemical pulses that cause the other individual cells to move in the direction opposite to that of the traveling pulses (the "diffusing wave paradox," ), leading to the formation of dense clusters. >>

<< In experiments, the researchers used spherical particles that are half-coated by a carbon cap and placed in a viscous liquid. When illuminated by light, the particles propel themselves forward with the cap in front. >>

<< At low pulse speeds, the particles have enough time to reorient themselves, if needed, so that their caps are facing in the same direction as that of the traveling pulses. This orientation ensures that the particles travel in the same direction as the pulses. >>

<< At high pulse speeds, on the other hand, the pulses come too quickly for the particles to reorient themselves before the next one comes. This is because the speed of the particles' rotation is limited by the friction of the viscous liquid. So if the particles' caps are initially facing the oncoming pulses, the particles will move counter to the direction of the traveling pulses, resembling the behavior of amoeba in the diffusing wave paradox. >>

Lisa Zyga. Diffusing wave paradox may be used to design micro-robotics. Jun 12, 2019.

https://m.phys.org/news/2019-06-diffusing-paradox-micro-robotics.html

Celia Lozano, Clemens Bechinger. Diffusing wave paradox of phototactic particles in traveling light pulses. Nature Communications 10, Article number: 2495.  Jun 7, 2019.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-10535-z