A full list of projects is also listed on my Google Scholar page.
25. Hyperuniform active matter. A. de la Cotte, Daniel J.G. Pearce, J. Nambisan, A. Levy, L. Giomi, A Fernandez-Nieves. Under review at Science, expected 2024.
We explain hyperuniformity of topological defects in active hydrodynamic materials through theory and experiment.
24. Topology changes of the regenerating Hydra define actin nematic defects as mechanical organizers of morphogenesis. Y. Ravichandran, M. Vogg, K. Kruse, Daniel J.G. Pearce, A. Roux. Under review at Science, expected 2024.
We demonstrate the importance of topological defects in the morphogenesis of Hydra through experiments and theory.
23. Self assembly of flexible colloidal lattices. Y. Shelke, Daniel J.G. Pearce, D. Kraft. Under review at Science Advances, expected 2024.
We show that flexible colloidal molecules can be tuned to have either square or hexagonal symmetry by adjusting the colloids relative size and abundance.
22. Passive defect driven morphogenesis in nematic membranes, Daniel J.G. Pearce, C. Thibault, Q. Chaboche, C. Blanch-Mercader. Under review at PRL expected 2024.
We demonstrate shape changes in liquid membranes driven by topological defects in an embedded nematic field.
21. Topological defects in multi-layered swarming bacteria, Victor Yashunsky, Daniel JG Pearce, Gil Ariel, Avraham Be'er, Luca Giomi. Phys Rev X (2022).
We show correlations across the thickness of a quasi 2 dimensional bacterial swarm in the nematic organisation of the bacteria.
20. Chiral boundary flows in confined fibrosarcoma cells, Victor Yashunsky, Daniel JG Pearce, Carles Blanch-Mercader, Pascal Silberzan, Luca Giomi. Phys Rev X (2022).
We observe chiral boundary flows in channels of fibrosarcoma cells. These can be linked to a chiral active stress and may play a role in cancel cell invasion.
19. Programming active metamaterials using topological defects, Daniel JG Pearce, Shachar Gat, Gefen Livne, Anne Bernheim-Grosswasser, Karsten Kruse. Under review (2022).
We derive a model for active elastic materials and how they deform from self induced stress.
18. Coupling topological defect phase with extrinsic curvature, Daniel JG Pearce, Soft Matter (2022)
I show that extrinsic curvature can be used to exert a torque on topological defects within thin curved shells.
17. Self assembly dynamics of reconfigurable colloidal molecules, Indrani Chakraborty, Daniel JG Pearce, Ruben W Verweij, Sabine C Matysik, Luca Giomi, Daniela J Kraft. Accepted for publication at A.C.S. Nano (2022)
We demonstrate self assembly of colloidal macromolecules with mobile surface DNA linkers. The mobility of the DNA linkers allows macromolecules to reconfigure themselves, allowing them to reach high valency.
16. Scale-free defect ordering in passive and active nematics, Daniel JG Pearce, Jyo Nambisan, Perry W Ellis, Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, L Giomi, Phys.Rev.Lett. (2021)
Identifying orientational elastic torques that govern defect ordering in active nematics, confirming their short ranged but scale free nature.
15. Properties of twisted topological defects in 2D nematic liquid crystals, Daniel JG Pearce, Karsten Kruse. Soft Matter (2021).
Probing the orientational interactions of half integer topological defects and controlling their behaviour by applying specific twists and temperatures.
14. Confinement-induced self-organization in growing bacterial colonies, Zhihong You, Daniel JG Pearce, Luca Giomi. Science Advances (2021)
Anisotropic stresses lead to nematic ordering in growing bacterial colonies, implying an active viscoelastic nematic type material.
13. Defect order in active nematics on a curved surface, Daniel JG Pearce, New Journal of Physics (2020)
Exploring the coupling between extrinsic curvature and defect generation in active nematics.
12. ZapA stabilizes FtsZ filament bundles without slowing down treadmilling dynamics, Paulo Caldas, Mar Lopez-Pelegrin, Daniel JG Pearce, Nazmi B Budanur, Jan Brugues, Martin Loose, Nature: Communications (2019).
Experimental work showing the effect of ZapA on FtsZ filament bundle structure and treadmilling dynamics.
11. Mono-to-multilayer transition in growing bacterial colonies, Zhihong You, Daniel JG Pearce, Anupam Sengupta, Luca Giomi, Phys.Rev.Lett. 123 (2019).
Agent based simulation and statistical model for the formation of multi-layered bacterial colonies.
10. Activity driven orientational order in active nematic liquid crystals on an anisotropic substrate, Daniel JG Pearce, Phys.Rev.Lett. 122 (2019).
Theoretical exploration of the effect of an anisotropic substrate on an active nematic.
9. Geometrical control of active turbulence in curved topographies, Daniel JG Pearce, Perry W Ellis, Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, L Giomi, Phys.Rev.Lett. 122 (2019).
A full hydrodynamic model for the motion of active nematics on curved surfaces, with comparison to agent based model and experiments.
8. Cellular geometry controls the efficiency of motile sperm aggregates, Daniel JG Pearce, LA Hoogerbrugge, Kristin A Hook, Heidi S Fisher, Luca Giomi, J.R.Soc. Interface 15 (2018).
Modelling how the motion of sperm aggregates depends on the sperm head geometry.
7. Geometry and mechanics of microdomains in growing bacterial colonies, Zhihong You, Daniel JG Pearce, Anupam Sengupta, Luca Giomi, Phys.Rev.X 8 (2018).
Explaining the growth of a single layer bacterial colony using molecular dynamics and active nematic theory.
6. Curvature-induced defect unbinding and dynamics in active nematic toroids, Perry W Ellis, Daniel JG Pearce, Ya-Wen Chang, Guillermo Goldsztein, Luca Giomi, Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Nature Physics 14 (2018).
Controlling and active nematic by placing it on the surface of a toroidal water droplet.
5. Linear response to leadership, effective temperature, and decision making in flocks, Daniel JG Pearce, Luca Giomi, Phys.Rev.E 94 (2016).
Measuring the effective temperature of a swarm using fluctuation dissipation theory with the correct symmetry in 2D.
4. Emergent behavioural phenotypes of swarming models revealed by mimicking a frustrated anti-ferromagnet, Daniel JG Pearce, Matthew S Turner, J.R.Soc. Interface 12 (2015).
Demonstrated how collective behaviour can be controlled by geometry and topology, which can be used to differentiate swarming models and perform logical operations.
3. Density regulation in strictly metric-free swarms, Daniel JG Pearce, Matthew S Turner, New J.Phys. 16 (2014).
A completely scale free model for swarming behaviour that has a noise mediated density. Selected for Highlights of 2014 in New Journal of Physics.
2. Role of projection in the control of bird flocks, Daniel JG Pearce, Adam M Miller, George Rowlands, Matthew S Turner, P.N.A.S. 111 (2014).
Hypothesis that large animal aggregates regulate their density based on line of sight interactions. This paper got significant coverage in the media.
1. Polymer vesicles with a colloidal armor of nanoparticles, Rong Chen, Daniel JG Pearce, Sara Fortuna, David L Cheung, Stefan AF Bon, J.A.C.S. 133 (2011).
Working in the Lab of Prof. Stefan Bon we created colloidal aggregates of charged spheres.