Fracking Bacteria: The mechanics of submerged colonies

Condensed Matter lunchtime seminar

Fracking Bacteria: The mechanics of submerged colonies

  • Event time: 1:00pm until 2:00pm
  • Event date: 4th March 2019
  • Speaker: Ed Muir (Formerly School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
  • Location: Room 2511,

Event details

Bacteria can become trapped in soft solids during food preparation or medical procedures, therefore it is important to understand how they grow and interact with their surroundings whilst submerged.

Using a new tomographic imaging technique, single plane illumination microscopy, I will show how submerged colony morphology is controlled purely by mechanical interactions between cells and the surround gel matrix. I will then show how observing the growth of these colonies from single cells to colonies visible to the naked eye can provide unique insight into fracture mechanics at small scales

About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars

This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..

Find out more about Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars.