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Mechanical forces are everywhere in human life. Strong forces power machines and cars, our body's forces let us labor and move, soft forces
are sensed through touch, even softer ones through hearing. Forces are also ubiquitous in the living cell, driving its molecular machines
and motors as well as signaling ongoing action in its surroundings. Man made, force bearing machines rely on extremely strong materials not
found in the cell. How can the cell bear substantial forces? Also, how do cells sense extremely weak forces as in hearing, surpassing most
microphones? Single molecule measurements, reviewed in a recent issue of Science, begin to answer these questions offering information on
biomolecules' mechanical responses and action. However, the information offered by these measurements is not enough to relate the
biomolecular function to the biomolecular architecture. Biomolecules in cells can move in amazing ways, but we did not know why. As
one contribution in the Science issue demonstrates,
computational modeling comes to the rescue. It can simulate the measurements and, in doing so, can reveal the physical mechanisms underlying
cellular mechanics at the atomic level. In as far as observed data are available, the simulations show impressive agreement with actual
measurements. While initially only following experiments or, at best, guiding experiments,
modeling has advanced now further and through simulated measurements
discovered on its own entirely novel mechanical properties that were later verified by experimental measurements. Experimentalists reacted to the
new competition and began to do simulations themselves. More here.