Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Cling Film

Mathematical modelling reveals the balance between growth and mechanical forces underlying wrinkling bacterial films

16 April 2020

Cling Film

Bacteria grow at an ever increasing, exponential rate – their invisible spread a challenge to combat in kitchens and hospitals. In this sprawling community, or biofilm, of Vibrio cholerae bacteria a pattern develops under a microscope, influenced by the struggle for space and food. Scientists simulating biofilms with mathematical models – using equations to represent different stresses on bacterial life – managed to reproduce a strange quirk seen in real life – wrinkles. They believe these crinkly 'starburst' patterns are caused by a balance of growth and mechanical forces used as the bacteria attach to different surfaces. The team hope their models can predict weaknesses in spreading biofilms, aiding the design new materials more resistant to growth for safer transplants or tissue engineering.

Written by John Ankers

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.