At high densities, many organisms begin to exhibit collective motion, such as flocks of birds, schools of fish, and, on a microscopic scale, swimming microorganisms.
These microorganisms are ubiquitous, existing within humans, in soils, and in industrial environments, and they form remarkable patterns at sufficiently high densities.
The collective motion of these microorganisms is described as a "living liquid," which moves chaotically, often called bacterial turbulence, on a collective length and timescale.
Like a conventional liquid, the container or environment, e.g. a box or a pipe, influences the flow and dynamics of this living liquid.
However, many biological systems exist in soft, pliable environments where the living liquid can actively reshape its surroundings.
This interaction suggests a two-way relationship: the living liquid influences the environment, and the environment, in turn, affects the liquid's behavior.
SIMMS aimed to investigate these mutual interactions, as understanding these dynamics could lead to innovative applications, such as regulating bacterial activity to enhance bio-degradation, prevent contamination, and combat infections.
The project explored three initial environments: bacteria in porous media, bacterial colonies at soft interfaces, and bacteria in responsive gels.
Throughout the project, multiple instances of indirect coordination between bacteria and their material environments were observed, paving the way for exciting new research into multi-scale self-organized complexity in biological materials.
