Bubble Trouble

Floating up to the surface of seas, volcanoes, soup and hot chocolate - is there a more joyful sight than a popping bubble? Yet some are filled with bacteria like Escherichia coli (E.coli) and a pop launches microbes in all directions, potentially spreading infection. Zooming in on bubbles with a high-powered microscope reveals the bacteria-laden lower bubble has tell-tale bright spots. Each is a plucky microbe, climbing up the dome-like 'cap' as it readies to explode. Researchers found that E.coli produce surfactant chemicals that thin the surface of the bubble, extending its life from seconds to minutes as the bacterial payload gathers – ensuring that when it does burst, the microorganisms spread far and wide. These may be important insights for scientists trying to contain the spread of infection or learning more about airborne disease transmission.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image from work by S. Poulain and L. Bourouiba
• The Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
• Image published under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives license
• Research published in Physical Review Letters, May 2018