The transition of a pluripotent stem cell into a differentiated lineage is one of the most complex yet precisely orchestrated events in developmental biology. A study now reveals that mechanical and osmotic forces, long considered background players in guiding this transition, are essential regulators of chromatin accessibility and cell fate decisions.

Nature Cell Biology - During wound healing, epithelial gaps trigger curvature-dependent ER remodelling. Tubules form at convex cell edges and promote lamellipodial crawling, whereas ER sheets at...