Experimental and theoretical research on active nematics continues apace. However, while many experimental systems naturally exhibit coexisting regions of active nematic and isotropic liquid, almost all theoretical studies of active nematics have, so far, been restricted to bulk regions of active nematic. To remedy this situation, Blow and colleagues now perform dynamical simulations of biphasic, lyotropic, active nematics.[1] A number of unusual physical phenomena arise from their model, including the selective ejection of positive topological defects into the bulk, and 'active anchoring' whereby alignment of the director develops at interfaces as a result of the activity. The latter effect, it is conjectured, may explain the planar anchoring observed in growing bacterial colonies.
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