Gut Development: A squash and a squeeze – June 2022
Advanced imaging techniques reveal details of the interactions between the two layers of the embryonic midgut that influence its ultimate shape – Insight (eLife)

Related publication: Visceral organ morphogenesis via calcium-patterned muscle constrictions, N. P. Mitchell, D. J. Cislo, S. Shankar, Y. Lin, B. I. Shraiman, S. J. Streichan eLife 11:e77355 (2022) [DOI] [PDF] [biorXiv]

How the saw sings – June 2022
L. Mahadevan, Petur Bryde, and Suraj Shankar explain the other worldly sounds of the musical saw – Science Sessions Podcast (PNAS)
Also see PNAS 2022 Highlights

Related publication: Geometric control of topological dynamics in a singing saw, S. Shankar, P. Bryde, L. Mahadevan, PNAS 119(17) e2117241119 (2022) [DOI] [PDF] [arXiv]

Topological dynamics of a singing saw – May 2022
New work demonstrates a connection between the dynamics of thin shells and topological insulators – Physics Today

Related publication: Geometric control of topological dynamics in a singing saw, S. Shankar, P. Bryde, L. Mahadevan, PNAS 119(17) e2117241119 (2022) [DOI] [PDF] [arXiv]

You hear the musical saw. These mathematicians heard geometry – May 2022
A scientist who has studied falling playing cards, coiling rope and other phenomena has now analyzed what transforms a carpenter’s tool into a sonorous instrument – New York Times

Related publication: Geometric control of topological dynamics in a singing saw, S. Shankar, P. Bryde, L. Mahadevan, PNAS 119(17) e2117241119 (2022) [DOI] [PDF] [arXiv]

The physics of a singing saw – April 2022
Insights on centuries-old folk instrument is underpinned by a mathematical principle that may pave the way for high-quality resonators for sensing, electronics and more – Harvard SEAS press release

Related publication: Geometric control of topological dynamics in a singing saw, S. Shankar, P. Bryde, L. Mahadevan, PNAS 119(17) e2117241119 (2022) [DOI] [PDF] [arXiv]

It’s topology, naturally – June 2021
One of the hottest topics in solid-state physics is having a fluid makeover. As Jon Cartwright reports, the consequences of topological behaviours in fluid dynamics could be far-reaching for our understanding of the natural world and other complex systems, such as fusion tokamaks – Physics World

Related publications: Topological sound and flocking on curved surfaces, S. Shankar, M. J. Bowick, M. C. Marchetti, Phys. Rev. X 7, 031039 (2017) [DOI] [PDF] [arXiv]
Topological active matter, S. Shankar, A. Souslov, M. J. Bowick, M. C. Marchetti, V. Vitelli, Nat. Rev. Phys. 4, 380-398 (2022) [DOI] [PDF] [arXiv]

CUHK Physicists Discover New Route to Active Matter Self-Organisation – Feb 2021
Provides new directions on fabricating self-driven devices and microbial physiology – CUHK press release

Related publication: Viscoelastic control of spatiotemporal order in bacterial active matter, S. Liu, S. Shankar, M. C. Marchetti, Y. Wu, Nature 590, 80-84 (2021) [DOI] [PDF] [arXiv]

When Birds Flock Around a Sphere, Beautiful Things Happen – Sept 2017
A new study has found that flocking on curved surfaces gives rise to unique patterns that nature could be taking advantage of – in our bodies, in the world – The Wire

Related publication: Topological sound and flocking on curved surfaces, S. Shankar, M. J. Bowick, M. C. Marchetti, Phys. Rev. X 7, 031039 (2017) [DOI] [PDF] [arXiv]

Even Flocks are Topological – Sept 2017
A flocking model that describes birds and cells exhibits topological features when the moving entities are confined to a curved surface – Physics
Research News: Editor’s Choice.

Related publication: Topological sound and flocking on curved surfaces, S. Shankar, M. J. Bowick, M. C. Marchetti, Phys. Rev. X 7, 031039 (2017) [DOI] [PDF] [arXiv]

Curious Properties – Sept 2017
Researchers at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics analyze flocking behavior on curved surfaces – The UCSB Current

Related publication: Topological sound and flocking on curved surfaces, S. Shankar, M. J. Bowick, M. C. Marchetti, Phys. Rev. X 7, 031039 (2017) [DOI] [PDF] [arXiv]