High hydrostatic pressure: a probing tool and a necessary parameter in biophysical chemistry.

High pressures extending up to several thousands of atmospheres provide extreme conditions for biological organisms to survive. Recent studies are investigating the survival mechanisms and biological function of microorganisms under natural and laboratory conditions extending into the GigaPascal range, with applications to understanding the Earth's deep biosphere and food technology. High pressure has also emerged as a useful tool and physical parameter for probing changes in the structure and functional properties of biologically important macromolecules and polymers encountered in soft matter science. Here we highlight some areas of current interest in high pressure biophysics and physical chemistry that are emerging at the frontier of this cross-disciplinary field.