Is osmosis ever active?

Certainly! Let me frame this as a thought-provoking question for our audience: "As we delve deeper into the realm of scientific phenomena, an intriguing query arises: is osmosis ever truly 'active' in its process? Osmosis, by definition, is a passive process driven by the spontaneous diffusion of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane in search of equilibrium. But does this innate characteristic preclude the possibility of active forces or mechanisms influencing its rate or direction? Could external stimuli or biological regulation play a role in modulating osmosis, pushing the boundaries of what we consider truly 'passive'? Let's explore the nuances of this question and unravel the mysteries that may lie beneath the surface of this fundamental process.