Meet The Swirlon – A New State of Active Matter Discovered By Physicists

3. The Patterns of Active Matter

As previously stated, there are two different patterns that active matter takes form as. The circular pattern, and a simple swirling pattern.

Scientists have been studying these patterns since first discovering active matter, and have been made a framework for statistical physics and out-of-equilibrium systems.

Many state that the pattern and ordering process has formed a relationship with underlying microscopic interactions. This means that many patterns are symmetrical and both types of patterns can coexist.

Because of this, active matter plays a large role in the structural formation of biological systems. These systems include bacteria, cells, algae, and even robots.