The British journal Nature published the research of Penn physicists Dr. Arjun Yodh (left) and graduate student Tony Dinsmore Nov. 19. They measured a force exerted on macromolecules by even tinier macromolecules. "It is possible that this type of entropic force plays some role in biological membranes where it is often necessary to manipulate big molecules into specific locations," Yodh said. "In this case, smaller molecules could play the same role as the smaller macromolecules played in this experiment." The scientists speculate that other possible applications might include the development of better-reflecting mirrors and low-fluctuation light sources. Yodh and Dinsmore worked with Dave Pine from the University of California-Santa Barbara.

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