How particles pack in a confined space

(Phys.org)—Many biological systems involve dense packing of a large amount of material or particles in a confined space. For example, eukaryotes' nuclei hold about two meters of DNA that is tightly wound into chromosomes. On the larger scale pharmaceutical packaging, manufacturing, and transport all involve trying to pack the most amount of material within a small space. Furthermore, nanotechnology and material sciences are concerned with particle packing and layering. While the concept of