Biophysics: BRIDGING THE PHYSICAL What Is Biophysics?

The Bridging Science SCIENCES AND BIOLOGY Biophysics is the field that applies the
theories and methods of physics to
Physical scientists use mathematics to explain understand how biological systems work.
what happens in nature. Life scientists
want to understand how biological systems
Biophysics has been critical to understanding the
work. These systems include molecules,
mechanics of how the molecules of life are made,
cells, organisms, and ecosystems that are
how different parts of a cell move and function,
very complex. Biological research in the 21st
and how complex systems in our bodies—the brain,
century involves experiments that produce
circulation, immune system, and others—work.
huge amounts of data. How can biologists
even begin to understand this data or predict
Biophysics is a broad and multidisciplinary research
how these systems might work?
leading to understanding nature and human body.
By using biophysical fundamentals, scientists can find
This is where biophysicists come in.
cure and therapeutic targets for multiple disease such
Biophysicists are uniquely trained in the
quantitative sciences of physics, math, and What Is as Alzheimer, aging, cardiac disease, resuscitation,
respiratory system etc. Every single molecule in life
chemistry and they are able tackle a wide
is based on biophysical and biochemical interactions.

Biophysics?
array of topics, ranging from how nerve cells
Consequently, every single biophysical discovery has a
communicate, and how plant cells capture
clinical or environmental application.
light and transform it into energy, to how
changes in the DNA of healthy cells can
Biophysics is a vibrant scientific field where scientists
trigger their transformation into cancer cells,
from many fields including math, chemistry, physics,
to so many other biological problems.
engineering, pharmacology, and materials sciences,
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE use their skills to explore and develop new tools for
understanding how biology, or all life, works.

www.biophysics.org
What Do Biophysicists Do? Where Do Biophysicists Work?

Biophysicists work to develop methods to overcome MOLECULES IN MOTION IMAGING Biophysicists are teachers and researchers in biology,
disease, eradicate global hunger, produce renewable Biophysicists study how hormones move around the Biophysics has revolutionized medical diagnostics by physics, engineering, and many other fields. They work in
energy sources, design cutting-edge technologies, and cell, and how cells communicate with each other. Using developing medical imaging techniques including universities, hospitals, tech startups, and engineering
solve countless scientific mysteries. In short, biophysicists fluorescent tags, biophysicists have been able to make MRIs, CT and PET scans, and ultrasound imaging; all companies developing new diagnostic tests, drug delivery
are at the forefront of solving age-old human problems cells glow like a firefly under a microscope and learn systems, or potential biofuels. Biophysicists develop
used regularly by physicians around the world.
as well as problems of the future. computer models to find out why a new flu strain eludes
about the cell’s sophisticated internal transit system.
the immune system or they make 3D models of new
DATA ANALYSES AND STRUCTURE protein structures to better understand how the proteins
shape work. They practice law in specialized fields like
The structure of DNA was solved in 1953 using intellectual property, write about science for print and
biophysics, and this discovery was critical to online publications, and work in government to advise
showing how DNA serves as a blueprint for life. legislatures. Those who are trained in biophysics have
unlimited career possibilities.
Now we can read the sequences of DNA from NEUROSCIENCE
thousands of humans and all varieties of living
Biophysicists are building computer models called
organisms. Biophysical techniques are also essential
neural networks to model how the brain and nervous
to the analysis of these vast quantities of data.
system work, leading to new understandings of how
visual and auditory information is processed. MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Biophysics has been essential to the development of
many life-saving treatments and devices including kid-
ney dialysis, radiation therapy, cardiac defibrillators,
pacemakers, and artificial heart valves.

ECOSYSTEMS
Environmental biophysics measures and models all
aspects of the environment from the stratosphere to
deep ocean vents. Environmental biophysicists research
BIOENGINEERING, NANOTECHNOLOGIES, the diverse microbial communities that inhabit every
BIOMATERIALS niche of this planet, they track pollutants across the
atmosphere, and are finding ways to turn algae into
Biophysics is a scientific field
Biophysics has also been critical
COMPUTER MODELLING
to understanding biomechanics biofuels. at the forefront of research
Biophysicists develop and use
computer modeling methods to
and applying this information that is transforming our
to the design of better
see and manipulate the shapes prosthetic limbs, and understanding of biology
and structures of proteins, viruses, better namomaterials
and other complex molecules, for drug delivery.
and the practice of medicine
providing crucial information needed
to develop new drug targets, or
in magnificent ways.
understand how proteins mutate
and cause tumors to grow.
Photo credits: NIH Image Gallery, Flickr, Spider Silk Image by Marlene Andersson