Illustration of a how a cell's nucleus (green) deforms around the nanopillars and causes its membrane to form temporary breaches, which are self-repairing. Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert!

Flip open an intro-to-biology textbook and you’ll likely find a cartoon image of the basic cell structure, with its kidney-bean shaped, round and oblong organs—called organelles—spread out with unique ...