ABSTRACT
One of the hallmark features of cellular life is the presence of membranes that separate the cell from the rest of the world and its compartments from each other. These membranes are characterized by a host of interesting chemical and physical properties, including mechanical properties that demand an energy cost for bending membranes away from their equilibrium configurations. Membranes are a critical part of all forms of life on Earth because they separate the cellular contents from the external world, maintaining vast differences in chemical composition between a cell and its surroundings. At the same time, membranes must enable the passage of critical nutrients into the cell and the passage of waste products out. From a mechanical perspective, the defining feature of these membranes is their extremely tiny aspect ratio, with their lateral dimensions typically orders of magnitude larger than their thickness of only 5 nm.
