Physical properties of solids elucidated by zooming in and out of high resolution

Computer simulations are used to understand the properties of soft matter--such as liquids, polymers and biomolecules like DNA -which are too complicated to be described by equations. They are often too expensive to simulate in full, given the intensive computational power required. Instead, a helpful strategy is to couple an accurate model--applied in the areas of the system that require greater attention--with a simpler, idealised model.