When microbial conversations get physical

It is widely accepted that microorganisms are social beings. Whereas communication via chemical signals (e.g. quorum sensing) has been the focus of most investigations, the use of physical signals for microbial cell-cell communication has received only limited attention. In this Opinion article, I postulate that physical modes of microbial communication could be widespread in nature. This is based on experimental evidence on the microbial emission and response to three physical signals: sound waves, electromagnetic radiation and electric currents. These signals propagate rapidly, and even at very low intensities, they provide useful mechanisms when a rapid response is required. I also make some suggestions for promising future research avenues that could provide novel and unsuspected insights into the physical nature of microbial signaling networks.     

Senescence: even bacteria get old

Cellular senescence, even in the presence of abundant nutrients, has now been demonstrated in several microbes, including most recently the bacterium Escherichia coli, suggesting that it may be a universal adaptive response to the inevitable damage to cell constituents that accumulates with time.     

Assessment change sparks protest

Concern is growing about the way Britain's government allocates funds set aside for university researchers. Nigel Williams reports on a growing rebellion.