Scientists found that embryonic skin cells “whisper” through faint mechanical tugs, using the same force-sensing proteins that make our ears ultrasensitive. By syncing these micro-movements, the cells choreograph the embryo’s shape, a dance captured with AI-powered imaging and computer models. Blocking the cells’ ability to feel the whispers stalls development, hinting that life’s first instructions are mechanical. The discovery suggests hearing hijacked an ancient force-sensing toolkit originally meant for building bodies.
