University of Cambridge > Talks.cam > Physics of Living Matter PLM6 > Physical principles of sensory transduction

  Browse A-Z

Log in

University Account External (via Google)

🔐 Log In

Information on

Subscribing to talksdetails Finding a talkdetails Adding a talkdetails Disseminating talksdetails Help and Documentationdetails

ℹī¸ Information

Physical principles of sensory transduction

Download to your calendar using vCal

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Duncan Simpson .

The Activity of Living Matter

The ability to sense and respond to the environment is one of the main characteristics of living matter, and it is little surprise that sensory systems have evolved to be remarkably effective. Typically they are capable of detecting very weak signals that are almost lost in the noise, but can also handle stimuli whose intensities are many orders of magnitude stronger. This applies to complex senses such as hearing, but also to the detection of chemicals by lowly bacteria. I will discuss a common physical principle that appears to underlie signal detection in both of these cases: such sensory systems achieve their astonishing performance by poising themselves on the brink of an instability.

This talk is part of the Physics of Living Matter PLM6 series.

This talk is included in these lists:

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.

Other lists

1st Floor Conservation Science Lab, Zoology Department, New Museums Site Average on weekdays: 9204.23314607 kWh Cambridge University Mycological Society

Other talks

Cambridge AI in Medicine Seminar - April 2026 The Inaccessible Game Cultural evolution creates language-like structure: from humans to humpback whales and beyond Classical Reductions and Converse Bounds in Quantum Hypothesis Testing Title to be confirmed Title TBC
 

Š 2006-2025 Talks.cam, University of Cambridge. Contact Us | Help and Documentation | Privacy and Publicity