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What is Matter?01:13

What is Matter?

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The substance of the universe—from a grain of sand to a star—is called matter. Scientists define matter as anything that occupies space and has mass. An object’s mass and its weight are related concepts, but not quite the same. An object’s mass is the amount of matter contained in the object and is the same whether that object is on Earth or in the zero-gravity environment of outer space. An object’s weight, on the other hand, is its mass as affected by the pull of...
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States of Matter01:20

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Solids, liquids, and gases are the three states of matter commonly found on Earth. A solid is rigid and possesses a definite shape. A liquid flows and takes the shape of its container, except it forms a flat or slightly curved upper surface when acted upon by gravity. Both liquid and solid samples have volumes nearly independent of pressure. A gas takes both the shape and volume of its container.
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Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter is all around us; the air, water, soil, mountains, even our bodies are all examples of matter. Matter is divided into three states — solid, liquid, and gas — that are commonly found on earth. The fourth state of matter, plasma, occurs naturally in the interiors of stars. 
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The internal energy of a substance—the total kinetic energy of all its molecules and the potential energy of their associated forces—depends on the strength of the intermolecular forces in the condensed phases and the pressure exerted on the substance. The internal energy of a substance is the highest in the gaseous state, the lowest in the solid state, and intermediate in the liquid state. Phase transitions are caused by changes in physical conditions, such as temperature and...
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The earliest recorded discussion of the basic structure of matter comes from ancient Greek philosophers. Leucippus and Democritus argued that all matter was composed of small, finite particles that they called atomos, meaning “indivisible.” Later, Aristotle and others came to the conclusion that matter consisted of various combinations of the four “elements” — fire, earth, air, and water — and could be infinitely divided. Interestingly, these philosophers...
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Active matter, then and now.

Evelyn Fox Keller1

  • 1MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA. efkeller@mit.edu.

History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
|September 2, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The new field of Active Matter studies materials with inherent activity, blurring the lines between living and non-living. This physics-based approach examines how material dynamics animate cells, bridging physics and biology.

Keywords:
ActivityLifeMatter

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Area of Science:

  • Physics, Biology, Material Science

Background:

  • Historically, autonomous activity distinguished living from inert matter.
  • The emerging field of Active Matter investigates materials exhibiting inherent activity.

Observation:

  • Modern materials possess inherent activity, challenging traditional definitions of life.
  • Active Matter is a burgeoning field exploring 'soft matter become alive'.

Findings:

  • Active matter scientists assert cells are materials, positioning their study within material science.
  • They claim physical dynamics of cellular materials are the source of life, linking physics to biology.

Implications:

  • Examines historical (19th-century) perspectives on animate vs. inanimate.
  • Explores future prospects for the division between living and non-living matter.
  • Investigates the interdisciplinary relationship between physics and biology through the lens of active matter.