Biology in Physics: Is Life Matter?Biology in Physics: Is Life Matter? is a radical new book which bridges the gap between biology and physics. The aim is to promote an interdisciplinary exchange of scientific information and ideas, in order to stimulate cooperation in research. The scope of this volume explores the concepts and techniques of biophysics, and illustrates the latest advances in our understanding of many of the specific mechanisms that are used by living organisms. This volume represents a special effort to bring together the information that would allow a nonbiologically oriented physicist to appreciate the important role that physics plays in life sciences. Key Features:
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Contents
Electricity Inside Us | 3 |
Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta | 4 |
Lipid Bilayer and Ionic Channels | 6 |
Resting Potential | 9 |
Action Potential | 13 |
Nerve Impulse Propagation | 16 |
Nodes of Ranvier | 20 |
A Menu for a Person Condemned to Death | 21 |
The Middle Ear | 128 |
Cochlear Amplifier | 131 |
Otoacoustic Emissions or Ear Sounds | 137 |
What Is a Cochlear Implant? | 139 |
Sound Localization | 141 |
Echolocation | 145 |
Bone | 153 |
Composite Structure of Bone | 156 |
Living Electricity Around Us | 23 |
Electrical Compass | 27 |
Electricity in Plants | 31 |
Heart Pulse | 35 |
Arteries Blood and Erythrocytes | 36 |
Velocity of Pulse Wave | 42 |
Reflection of Pulse Waves | 44 |
Aneurysm | 47 |
Murrays Law | 50 |
Blood Circulation in Giraffe and Space Medicine | 52 |
How Blood Pressure and Blood Flow are Measured | 55 |
Blood Color and the Law of the Conservation of Energy | 63 |
Crocodile Tears and Other Liquids | 65 |
Water in Us | 67 |
Amazing Filter | 70 |
Cryobiology and Biological Antifreezes | 77 |
Inhale Deeper | 83 |
Breathing and Soap Bubbles | 85 |
Its Not So Simple | 87 |
Exceptions to the Rule | 90 |
Cheap and Effective | 92 |
Diving | 93 |
High Frequency Ventilation and Einsteins Formula | 100 |
The Physics of Cough | 106 |
Hunt for Cells in an Electric Field | 111 |
Principles of Dielectrophoresis | 112 |
Cell ID in an Alternating Electric Field | 115 |
Cell Separation Using TravelingWave Dielectrophoresis | 118 |
Electroporation of Cell Membranes | 121 |
How Nature Listens | 123 |
The Ear in Brief | 126 |
Compact versus Spongy Bone | 157 |
Bone Strength | 159 |
Osteoporosis | 162 |
Wolffs Law and Bone Remodeling | 163 |
Karate Mechanics in Short | 165 |
Leg Tendons Living Springs | 167 |
Optics of the Eye | 171 |
Photoreceptors and Visual Pigments | 174 |
Tapetum Living Mirror | 177 |
Infrared Vision | 180 |
Compound Eyes | 183 |
How Ommatidia Help One Another | 187 |
Microvilli See Polarized Light | 193 |
Animal Maps | 197 |
Magnetic Sense | 201 |
On a Wing and a Vector | 202 |
Magnetites Inside Us | 205 |
Basics of Magnetic Orientation | 208 |
Paleomagnetism and Magnetotactic Bacteria | 211 |
Optima for Animals from Mouse to Elephant | 213 |
Allometry of a Skeleton | 214 |
Stepping Frequency and Gaits | 216 |
Jumping Performance and Body Mass | 218 |
Shark and Mackerel | 219 |
Carrying Loads on the Head | 220 |
BreathingTuned Oscillator | 221 |
Energy and Body Mass | 223 |
| 227 | |
References | 229 |
| 237 | |
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Popular passages
Page xvii - ... different problems in the history of weaving in Europe, or rather with the implements connected with textile work, may at first sight appear disconnected, but the discussions in the different studies are all centred around the warp-weighted loom, its products, and its role in European weaving. The writing of this book would not have been possible without the help of many individuals and institutions. In the first place my thanks must go to the Norwegian Folk Museum, where I have worked all these...
Page 235 - KL (1958). A simplified explanation of the theory of indicator-dilution for measurement of fluid flow and volume and other distributive phenomena.