Optical manipulation refers to the use of light to control and move small particles or biological cells. This technique often employs lasers to create forces that can trap or guide these particles, allowing researchers to study their behavior in detail. It is widely used in fields like biophysics and nanotechnology. One common method of optical manipulation is called optical tweezers, which uses focused laser beams to hold and move microscopic objects without physical contact. This technology has applications in cell biology, where it helps scientists investigate cellular processes and interactions at a very small scale.