Microbes communicate with each other. Although we humans cannot hear this language, we can experience some of the effects of this communication: for example, some bacteria grow by "agreement" in protected cell clusters, biofilms, which we recognise as slimy coatings (on seals or in washing machine rinse chambers). Bacteria use small...

Microorganisms are incredibly prolific and this gives them great advantages when conquering new habitats. Under ideal conditions, one E. coli cell can become two cells within 20 minutes ...

The odour of feet is microbial work. The cheesy smell is caused by bacteria that break down the sweat of the feet, which would otherwise be completely odourless. Researchers found 80 species of microorganisms on the heel alone. The foot is a veritable land of milk and honey for bacteria: around 250,000 sweat glands produce a quarter of...

Like any other living organism, bacteria can be attacked by certain viruses and thus become ill. Such viruses are called bacteriophages (phages for short), which means "bacteria eaters". Bacteriophages can be found wherever bacteria are found. A phage has a very simple structure: It essentially consists of a shell that protects the...

Breathing, heartbeat and brain activity are controversial criteria for declaring a person dead. It is similarly complicated to judge whether a bacterium is dead or alive. This knowledge is important, for example when handling food.

It is not so easy to weigh a single bacterial cell, although there is actually a very accurate measuring device for this.
But to find out approximately how heavy a bacterium is, you don't necessarily have to put it on a scale. The simplest and quickest way to estimate the weight of a microbe is to measure its size. A typical...

The simplest life form known to date is the bacterium Candidatus Carsonella ruddii, which has only 182 genes. A human cell, on the other hand, has around 20,000-30,000 genes. However, this microbe cannot survive on its own and must therefore inhabit another organism, in this case a leaf flea. Through a symbiosis in mutual...

Fungi have their own diverse language. They communicate actively with conspecifics, but also with other living organisms. This gives them a competitive advantage. Single-celled yeast fungi, for example, exchange information via small chemical messengers such as peptides, alcohols or volatile substances.

We are attached to our mobile phones, which are in constant contact with our skin and therefore also with our closest housemates. Smartphones therefore reflect the microbiome of their owners quite reliably. The bacteria on the display even match those on the thumb or index finger 22 per cent of the time - although the microbial...