Researchers from the University of Twente in the Netherlands and the University of L'Aquila in Italy have developed a method to control active fluids using topological tweezers. Topological tweezers are a type of optical tweezers that use light to create a force field that can trap and move particles. The researchers showed that topological tweezers can be used to control the flow of active fluids, which are fluids that contain self-propelled particles.

Active fluids are found in a variety of biological systems, such as the cytoplasm of cells and the blood flow in the human body. They are also used in a variety of industrial applications, such as the transport of materials and the mixing of liquids. However, active fluids can be difficult to control because they are constantly in motion.

The researchers' method uses topological tweezers to create a force field that can trap and move active particles. This allows them to control the flow of active fluids and to create new types of active fluid devices.

The researchers' findings are published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Applications

The researchers' method could have a variety of applications in biology and industry. For example, it could be used to:

* Study the behavior of active fluids in biological systems

* Develop new types of active fluid devices

* Control the flow of active fluids in industrial applications

The researchers' findings are a significant step forward in the understanding and control of active fluids. They open up new possibilities for studying and using these fluids in a variety of applications.