Technologies and implementations for a system and method for determining a force applied to a cell or tissue culture is disclosed. The system and method may include an elastic element mounted in or suitable for mounting in a culture chamber. The elastic element may be adapted to be coupled with the cell or the tissue culture such that a force applied to the cell or the tissue culture leads to a deflection of the elastic element against a restoring force. A magnetic field sensor may be mounted outside said culture chamber. The magnetic field sensor may be adapted to detect a change of magnetic field attributable to a corresponding movement of a magnetic element upon deflection.