Revolutionizing Soft Material Design with Morpho: Tufts Researchers Develop New Modeling Software

**Morpho** is a groundbreaking **open-source software** developed by a team at **Tufts University**, headed by Professor Tim Atherton. It's designed to tackle complex **shape optimization problems** in soft materials, a realm where traditional rigid-material modeling fails. Soft materials like biological tissues or engineered membranes behave unpredictably and demand sophisticated modeling to optimize their shapes under various conditions. The Morpho program employs **finite element methods**, which involve dividing materials into small, simple, mathematically modeled shapes. These form the basis for equations that predict the material's optimal shape under external forces and conditions. This capability extends beyond soft materials, including mixed systems comprising both hard and soft elements, exemplified by applications like cardiovascular stents. Morpho's intuitive design makes it accessible to users with minimal training. Professor Atherton notes how even undergraduate students have swiftly transitioned to using Morpho for complex research tasks, demonstrating its practical and educational impact. By enabling engineers to address challenges across fields—be it optimizing the packing of pharmaceutical particles or designing artificial veins—Morpho marks a significant advancement in materials science.