Biophysics is much more than biology + physics. It’s in fact the confluence of several scientific disciplines: physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, computer modelling, and engineering – all are integrated to solve some of nature’s big problems. Personally, I like to put a stronger emphasis on physics (otherwise my physics colleagues tend to erroneously think I’m doing biology). This would be my definition: Biophysics is the branch of physics that applies the methods and theories of physics to study biological systems. In short, biophysicists study the physics of living systems.
– Prof. Tjaart Krüger, Head of the Biophysics Research Group.
Biophysics is a vibrant, interdisciplinary field that brings together scientists from fields such as physics, biology, chemistry, maths, and material science to share their skills and develop new tools for understanding how biology works.
Biology primarily focuses on the variety and complexity of living systems, while physics looks at the fundamental laws of nature and makes detailed predictions about the effects of these laws on the physical world. Biological systems are highly complex with many competing and co-existing reactions at room temperature. Physics is usually best studied in simple, well-controlled ideal circumstances because this is where mathematics can be applied to explain what is happening in the system. Much of what is left to discover in biological systems will be found at the most fundamental level of life. Experimental and computational physics are the most powerful ways to learn about these systems. Herein lies the challenge of biophysics. It is the bridge between highly disordered and complex biological systems and the simplicity and beauty of the laws of nature. It is the role of a biophysicist to apply the principles and methods of physics to biological systems.
Biophysicists study life at every level, from the molecular level up to entire ecosystems. They develop new experimental and computational methods to understand all aspects of biological systems at a fundamental level, solving scientific mysteries in the process. Biophysicists push the scientific envelope to answer questions that have remained unanswered and solve the problems of the future.
The structure, function, and dynamics of biological systems can often be visualised using electromagnetic radiation. Some other interesting properties include conductivity and binding energy, which can only be described using physical methods. Much of experimental biophysics is devoted to developing methods that provide accurate and reliable results of nanoscale machines without damaging these delicate systems. Technological developments in the last two decades have allowed for multiscale imaging from cellular to atomic resolution, as well as recording events on ultrafast (picoseconds to femtosecond) timescales.
Biophysics has applications in a broad range of fields, from computer modelling to neuroscience to agriculture and medical applications. The questions that interest biophysicists are as diverse as the organisms they study. Some examples include:
Biophysics is a fountain of innovation. Society is facing many global physical and biological challenges. How will we create enough energy to sustain a growing population? How can we feed that growing population? How do we preserve biological diversity? How do we repair and remediate global warming? Biophysics provides valuable insight into these challenges and equips scientists to develop potential solutions.
Inspired by: The World of Biophysics booklet and the Biophysical Society.
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