Prof. Wang is studying how bone cells sense external mechanical forces, which allows living bone tissue to adapt to its mechanical usage. With the absence of mechanical stimulation (such as the microgravity for astronauts) and loss of sensitivities of detecting the loads (such as during aging), bone mass decreases and bone structure degenerates, eventually leading to bone fracture. recent studies have found that osteocytes—the most abundant cells buried inside the mineralized matrix—serve as sensors that orchestrate bone adaptation
