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Giant mobility of surface-trapped ionic charges revealed by sliding water droplets

Publication Research On October 23, 2025

A team of researchers from ESPCI Paris (CNRS/PSL/Sorbonne Université) and the Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique (CNRS/Université Grenoble Alpes) combined high-resolution electrostatic mapping with molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the behavior of these surface-trapped ionic charges. They found that the ionic charges spread across the surface with astonishing mobility. Their two-dimensional diffusion far exceeds that of ions in bulk water, with the limiting factor being the friction between the ionic solvation shell and the solid.

These findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal the existence of a new state of interfacial ionic matter, which the authors term “ionic puddles.”

For more information, visit:

  • the news on the CNRS Physique website,
  • the scientific paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Electrostatic mapping of surface charges
Electrostatic mapping (short times on the left, long times on the right) of surface charges deposited in the wake of a water droplet sliding on a hydrophobic solid. Their lateral diffusion over time highlights a remarkably high mobility.

Contact

Simon GRAVELLE
simon.gravelleatuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (simon[dot]gravelle[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr)

Reference

Z. Benrahla, T. Saide, L. Burnaz, E. Verneuil, S. Gravelle, & J. Comtet. Giant mobility of surface-trapped ionic charges following liquid tribocharging. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 122(37), e2505841122 (2025)

 

Tau: Not Just a Stabilizer, But an Active Microtubule Remodeler

Publication Research On October 4, 2025

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Germany and the LIPhy has demonstrated that Tau, a neuronal protein known for stabilizing microtubule tips, plays an active role in modulating microtubule lattice dynamics. The study reveals that Tau significantly accelerates the exchange of tubulin within the microtubule lattice, especially at topological defect sites, despite lacking enzymatic activity. These findings challenge the traditional view of Tau as merely a passive stabilizer, showing instead that it increases lattice anisotropy and, in doing so, actively enhances microtubule lattice dynamics.

To find out more, take a look at the scientific article published in Nature Physics.

Tau: Not Just a Stabilizer, But an Active Microtubule Remodeler

Contact

Karin JOHN
karin.johnatuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (karin[dot]john[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr)

Reference

S. Biswas, R. Grover, C. Reuther, C. S. Poojari, R. Shaebani, S. Nandakumar, M. Grünewald, A. Zablotsky, J. S. Hub, S. Diez, K. John & L. Schaedel. Tau accelerates tubulin exchange in the microtubule lattice. Nat. Phys. 1745-2481 (2025)

How not to let CO2 bubbles over in the air

Publication Research On September 15, 2025

A team from LIPhy has studied the transport of CO2 within a liquid foam in contact with the atmosphere and shown how its effective diffusion in the medium emerges from the coupling between the structure of the foam and the transport of the gas through the soap films. This study paves the way for the development of low-cost CO2 filtration systems based on the ability of this main contributor to the greenhouse effect to dissolve more easily in water than most other gases.

For more information, have a look at:

foam

Contact

Benjamin Dollet
simon.gravelleatuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (benjamin[dot]dollet[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr)

Reference

C. Aprili, G. Coupier, É. Lorenceau, & B. Dollet, Tunable effective diffusion of CO2 in aqueous foam. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 122(35), e2504617122 (2025)

The Matosthèque, LIPhy's initiative to reduce the environmental footprint of equipment purchases

Publication Research On September 2, 2025

LIPhy is taking action to reduce the share of equipment purchases in its CO2 emissions! Over the past year, the laboratory has developed and implemented a new digital tool for sharing equipment: the Matosthèque.

The laboratory's tutelles support this initiative! To find out more, take a look at:

  • the news published by CNRS,
  • the news published by UGA.

Other laboratories are already considering deploying the tool within their organizations:

  • Matière et Systèmes Complexes - CNRS Physique / CNRS Ingénierie – DR01
  • Institut Néel - CNRS Physique – DR11
  • Institut Lumière Matière - CNRS Physique – DR07
  • Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d’Ingénierie thérapeutique - CNRS Biologie – DR07
  • Institut Jacques Monod - CNRS Biologie – DR01
  • Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers Terre Homme Environnement Temps Astronomie - CNRS Terre&Univers – DR06

Soon the export of the Matosthèque on a large scale?

Matosthèque

Contact

Guillemin RAYMOND
guillemin.raymondatuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (guillemin[dot]raymond[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr)

Vikhram DUFFOUR
vikhram-kofi.duffouratuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (vikhram-kofi[dot]duffour[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr) 

Tooth sensitivity, a network issue?

Publication Research On July 18, 2025

Dental sensitivity is unique in that it is mediated by cells called odontoblasts, located in the dental pulp at the center of the tooth. According to hydrodynamic theory, the activation of odontoblastic processes is linked to the movement of fluids in the dentinal porosity induced by external stimuli. A new study conducted at the Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Physics (LIPhy - CNRS/UGA) shows that this porosity has all the characteristics of a complex network. Far from functioning as independent sensors, odontoblasts could therefore, in theory, adopt collective behaviors that are very different from the simple sum of individual responses.

To find out more, take a look at :

Tooth

Contact

Aurélien GOURRIER
aurelien.gourrieratuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (aurelien[dot]gourrier[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr)

Reference

L. Chatelain, N. Tremblay, E. Vennat, E. Dursun, D. Rousseau & A. Gourrier. Cellular porosity in dentin exhibits complex network characteristics with spatio-temporal fluctuations. PLOS One 20(7), e0327030 (2025)

Artificial intelligence for optical measurements at the ultimate limit of precision

Publication Research On June 25, 2025

When light is scattered, how accurately can a measurement result be derived from that light? An international research team has explored the limits of what is possible using artificial intelligence.

To find out more, take a look at :

Measurement AI

Contact

Dorian BOUCHET
dorian.bouchetatuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (dorian[dot]bouchet[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr)

Reference

I. Starshynov, M. Weimar, L. M. Rachbauer, G. Hackl, D. Faccio, S. Rotter & D. Bouchet. Model-free estimation of the Cramér–Rao bound for deep learning microscopy in complex media. Nature Photonics 19, 593-600 (2025)

Universal Laws of Swimming – From Microbes to Whales

Publication Research On June 12, 2025

A scientific team from Grenoble, involving the Laboratoire interdisciplinaire de physique (LIPhy - CNRS/UGA) and the Centre Inria de l'UGA, has developed a groundbreaking computational model that reveals universal laws governing how creatures swim across vastly different sizes and environments — from microscopic bacteria to massive blue whales.

To find out more, take a look at :

Poisson

Contact

Bruno VENTEJOU
bruno.ventejouatuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (bruno[dot]ventejou[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr)

Reference

B. Ventéjou, T. Métivet, A. Dupont & P. Peyla. Universal Scaling Laws for a Generic Swimmer Model. Physical Review Letters 134(13), 134002 (2025)

When a soft mattress levitates the sleeper…

Publication Research On May 21, 2025

In a recent work, researchers show that particles entrained in a flow close to a deformable wall undergo a force that moves them slightly away from it, an important result for the general understanding of transport phenomena in biology.

To find out more, take a look at :

AFM

Contact

Abdelhamid MAALI (LOMA, Bordeaux)
abdelhamid.maaliatu-bordeaux.fr (abdelhamid[dot]maali[at]u-bordeaux[dot]fr)

Chaouqi MISBAH (LIPhy, Grenoble)
chaouqi.misbahatuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (chaouqi[dot]misbah[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr) 

Reference

H. Zhang, Z. Zhang, A. Jha, Y. Amarouchene, T. Salez, T. Guérin, C. Misbah and A. Maali. Direct Measurement of the Viscocapillary Lift Force near a Liquid Interface. Physical Review Letters 134(9), 094001 (2025)

The guided journey of male gametes in flowering plants

Publication Research On September 22, 2025

At the heart of the Arabidopsis thaliana flower, the pistil, formed of hundreds of papillae and an ovary housing the ovules, is surrounded by stamens that release pollen grains carrying male gametes. In an article published in PLOS Computational Biology, scientists combine theory and experiments to reveal how male gametes are guided toward the ovules from the very beginning of their journey on the surface of the female reproductive organ.

To find out more, take a look at :

  • the news published on the CNRS Biologie website,
  • the scientific article published in PLOS Computational Biology.
Plante

Contact

Isabelle Fobis-Loisy (ENS Lyon)
isabelle.fobis-loisyatens-lyon.fr (isabelle[dot]fobis-loisy[at]ens-lyon[dot]fr)

Karin John (LIPhy, Grenoble)
karin.johnatuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (karin[dot]john[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr)

Reference

L. Riglet C. Quilliet, C. Godin, K. John, I. Fobis-Loisy. Geometric and mechanical guidance: Role of stigmatic epidermis in early pollen tube pathfinding in arabidopsis. PLoS Computional Biology 21(5) e1013077 (2025)

How cyanobacteria's circadian clock reacts to cold

Publication Research On May 6, 2025

Cyanobacteria have an internal biological clock that rhythms their activities on a 24-hour cycle. Thanks to this finely regulated mechanism, these micro-organisms are able to anticipate day/night cycles. A study recently published in Scientific Reports looked at how this clock reacts when the temperature drops below 25°C, an important threshold for their physiology.

To find out more, take a look at :

Cyanobacteria

Contact

Irina MIHALCESCU
irina.mihalcescuatuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr (irina[dot]mihalcescu[at]univ-grenoble-alpes[dot]fr)

Reference

I. Mihalcescu, H. Kaji, H. Maruyama, J. Giraud, M. Van Melle-Gateau, B. Houchmandzadeh & H. Ito. When lowering temperature, the in vivo circadian clock in cyanobacteria follows and surpasses the in vitro protein clock trough the Hopf bifurcation. Scientific Reports 15(1), 14884 (2025)

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