• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact
Sunday, 18 April 2021
27 °c
Colombo
27 ° Mon
27 ° Tue
27 ° Wed
27 ° Thu
Sri Lanka News - BusinessNews.lk
  • Home
  • News
    • Local
    • Covid-19
    • Developments
    • Sports
    • World
    • Weather
  • Business
    • Banking & Insurance
    • Corporate
    • CSR
    • Economy
    • Entrepreneur
    • Financial
    • Travel
    • Budget
  • Magazine
  • News – Sinhala
    • Business – Sinhala
No Result
View All Result
Sri Lanka News - BusinessNews.lk
Home Technology

The Secret Lives Of Microbes

by Reporter
8 August, 2019
in Technology
6 min read
336 18
311
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Many scientists believe that the scientific approach to understanding and manipulating (in its neutral meaning: acting upon, utilizing) the non-living and living world is the only one possible. No doubt it is a necessary one and it provides a solid basis for policy decisions. But our perspectives on nature, life, human and other beings derive from other sources as well.

Why we marry one person instead of another one, why we have different associations with yellow in contrast to red, cannot be explained by neurosciences or by knowing the different wavelengths of yellow and red light. Erwin Schrödinger, one of the co-founders of quantum mechanics, has written cogently about this in two booklets, “What is life” of 1944, and particularly “Mind and matter” of 1956. Art in its various manifestations provides a kaleidoscopic range of complementary perspectives.

EuroScience has recognized this for long. As of ESOF2006 in Munich, the “Science and Poetry” session has been a gem in the ESOF programs. And many events in the “Science in the City” track of ESOF illustrate the multiple interfaces between science and the arts. That is why we also make room in EuroScientist for articles about these interfaces.

Scientists inspire artists – and vice versa – in S.E.A. project

In the unique Sea Encounters Art (S.E.A.) project on the Dutch island Texel, marine scientists cooperate with artists. The result is exhibited this summer in various locations on the island. One of the ‘science-art-couples’ is microbiologist Henk Bolhuis and micro-photographer Wim van Egmond. Their BIOFILM project shows fascinating time-lapse images of microbial life, in which cyanobacteria play the lead role.

“These are the real extremophiles”, says molecular microbiologist Henk Bolhuis, and he points at a muddy green-brownish colored soup in a little glass jar in his laboratory at the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, based on the Dutch island of Texel. The muddy jar contains a rich collection of microbes, collected from ‘microbial mats’ on several beaches in the Wadden Sea.

Fossil record

These organisms can be seen as extremophiles since they can survive extreme fluctuations in physical conditions, such as temperature, salinity, and humidity. Hundreds of different species of microbes are found in microbial mats; using molecular techniques, Bolhuis even found 2000 species in the top 5 mm soil of mudflats.

Microbial mats are also known (and famous) from the fossil record by the name of ‘stromatolites’, rocks made by single-celled organisms that we’re able to catch sediment in their web of sugars and glycoproteins. The typical round shape of stromatolites is caused by erosion. Bolhuis: “The microbial mats which we find on the beaches in the Wadden Sea are often named ‘algal mats’. However, this is incorrect, as one of the dominant species in these mats are cyanobacteria. Bacteria don’t possess a nucleus, algae do.”

Diet of sunlight

It soon becomes clear that not only microbiologists are working in this lab, as many cameras are set up to picture the biotopes in the cubic glass jars. This rich microbial life – on a diet of sunlight – turns out to play the lead role in the Sea Encounters Art project, in which scientists and artists work closely together. Bolhuis, his near colleague Michele Grego and Wim van Egmond make up the BIOFILM-team. Grego specializes in the cultivation of microbes; Van Egmond is a micro-photographer specializing in picturing the microbial world by magnifying the images in an artistic way.

Bolhuis and Van Egmond have chosen to make the microbes from the mudflats visible and added the element of time by creating time-lapse films from thousands of photographs. The result is fascinating. By compressing weeks or months in a few minutes, we are able to see dynamic microbial communities.

Compressed time

These time-lapse films, without a beginning or end, show the organisms in their continuous activity: moving, searching for food, producing gases, growing, extending from or withdrawing in the sand and silt.

Photographic (static) images were taken on average every 15 minutes, 24/7, for about nine months, in the NIOZ lab. Ten cameras were set up; 1500 photographs (25 images per sec.) make up 1 minute of the film and 6 minutes of the film covers about three months’ time. The result is breath-taking and opens up a new, colorful world to the public, but to scientists as well, as they normally don’t see the cyclical activity of microbes, compressed in a couple of minutes.

Surprising bacterial ‘behavior’

Bolhuis, an experienced marine microbiologist, noticed the behavior of these single-celled organisms that he never saw before. “What surprised me most, where the little ‘knots’ the Beggiatoa – a species of sulfur loving bacteria – produce. It might be something related to the exchange of DNA or nutrients, but we just don’t know.” (See featured image at the top.)

Another fascinating aspect that Van Egmond made visible using his time-lapse images is the cycle of day and night: white microbes oxidizing sulfur (from H2S) move up and down in the water right above the sediment, depending on the presence of oxygen (produced by cyanobacteria). “Here we see ‘symbiosis at a distance’ among the various species of sulfur bacteria”, Bolhuis says.

Tough little worms

“What surprised me most are these tough little worms, which I thought were flatworms but belong to a different more ancient group, the Acoelomorpha, we saw in BIOFILM”, says Van Egmond. They seem to survive anoxic conditions for quite a while.”

It made him think about ‘deep time’ at the start of the Archean eon, before oxygen gas was even present on Earth, long before photosynthesis was ‘invented’. The process of photosynthesis is even invented by cyanobacteria. In fact, the part of the plant and algal cell in which photosynthesis takes place, the chloroplasts, are descendants of cyanobacteria that became incorporated in plants and algae in the course of evolution. That’s why Van Egmonds gave cyanobacteria a lead role in BIOFILM.

“Cyanobacteria are an underestimated species of micro-organisms in the role they play on Earth”, he says. “Usually we hear of them in the news in relation to toxic swimming water on a hot summer day, as cyanobacterial blooms can result in a depletion of oxygen in the water and a release of toxins. But their role is far more important as oxygen producers and they can be considered as the forests of the oceans”.

19th-century science and digital photography

“In modern times, science is less visual”, Van Egmond says. “Nowadays, biological research focuses on DNA-scale. Therefore, my work is more related to 19th-century scientists. I use old fashioned techniques but combine them with the modern possibilities of modern digital photography.

And that’s where the S.E.A. project is all about. The main goal is that scientists and artists inspire each other, to create new ideas and visions. Bolhuis: “We decided to continue this project because we observed unexpected behavior in bacteria. In the future, I like to work together with artists more often, as it inspires to see our scientific work in an unexpected way, creating new and unforeseen questions.”

The BIOFILM exhibition is presented to the public in the visitor’s center Ecomare on the island of Texel. BIOFILM is one out of ten projects in the Science Encounters Art (S.E.A.) project, a result of intensive cooperation between marine researchers and artists. Other projects cover e.g. plastic waste, the structure of sand grains, seaweed as a new raw material for bio-plastic and bird research about migrating knots.

Tags: ComputerNewsCool TechDefine TechnologyDefinition of TechnologyGadget NewsLatest TechnologyLatest Technology NewsModern TechnologyNew TechnologyNews TechnologyNewtechScience and TechnologyScience TechnologyTechTech NewsTech WebsitesTechnewsTechnological AdvancesTechnology DefinitionTechnology MeaningTechnology ReviewTechnology UpdatesTechnologyArticlesWhat is Technology
Share124Tweet78

Related Posts

Nokia HMD Global
News

HMD Global introduces six new Nokia phones across three distinct lines and continues its move into the mobile services sector

15 April, 2021
Huawei
Business News

Huawei says technological innovations boost digital transformation of education

8 April, 2021
realme launches Buds Air 2 and Buds Air 2 Neo with Active Noise Cancellation
Mobile

realme launches Buds Air 2 and Buds Air 2 Neo with Active Noise Cancellation

8 April, 2021
Microsoft release second 'final' Windows 7 update - Sri Lanka News – BusinessNews.lk |Local|Business|Sports|World
News

Microsoft introduces Cloud Skills Challenge with 10 Universities in the Country

7 April, 2021
Facebook
News

Facebook users to have more control over their News Feed

6 April, 2021
Cyber Attack - SLCERT
News

Cyberattacks increase while stagnant budgets and apathetic leadership remain major cybersecurity barriers in APAC and Japan

6 April, 2021

RECENT

Dr Sudath Samaraweera

To combat the spread of COVID, Sri Lanka is considering putting restrictions on foreign arrivals – Dr. Sudath Samaraweera

18 April, 2021
US Dollar - Foreign Currency

Rupee appreciates to Rs.201.28

18 April, 2021
B2B meeting to boost Sri Lankan exports of fruits and vegetables to Oman

B2B meeting to boost Sri Lankan exports of fruits and vegetables to Oman

17 April, 2021
Krishan Balendra - Sri Lanka News – BusinessNews.lk |Local|Business|Sports|World

Hyundai hands over ‘The Suites’ and ‘The Offices’ at Cinnamon Life to John Keells Properties

17 April, 2021
Showers

Showers expected in Western and Southern provinces.

17 April, 2021
Asian Swimming record holder LAC Abeysundara promoted to Corporal

Asian Swimming record holder LAC Roshan Abeysundara promoted to Corporal

16 April, 2021
Germany

ICTA inks MoU with enpact e.V, Germany

16 April, 2021
Mega Facilities for Colombo Residents from RDB Nugegoda Branch

Mega Facilities for Colombo Residents from RDB Nugegoda Branch

16 April, 2021
Litro Gas Lanka revolutionizes LPG market with Premium Hybrid 18 litre cylinder

Litro Gas Lanka revolutionizes LPG market with Premium Hybrid 18 litre cylinder

16 April, 2021
National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE)

Improving Sri Lanka’s market access to the US: Growing beyond traditional products

16 April, 2021
Virtusa Sponsors First Virtual IEEE Sri Lanka Robotics Workshop

Virtusa Sponsors First Virtual IEEE Sri Lanka Robotics Workshop

16 April, 2021
Showers

Showers expect in several places over most parts of the island

16 April, 2021
LG Dual Cool Inverter Air Conditioner offers up to 70% electricity savings

LG Dual Cool Inverter Air Conditioner offers up to 70% electricity savings

16 April, 2021
Purchasing Manager Index - PMI

Sri Lanka’s PMI for both Manufacturing and Services activities expanded in March

16 April, 2021
US Dollar - Foreign Currency

The selling price of a US Dollar against SL Rupee recorded Rs.204.62

15 April, 2021
Improt and Export - Sri Lanka News – BusinessNews.lk |Local|Business|Sports|World

Colombo Port re-exports crude coconut oil containing carcinogen aflatoxin

15 April, 2021
Mahinda Amaraweera

Over 107,000 saplings planted in four months – Min. Mahinda Amaraweera

15 April, 2021
ADB

ADB: 2021 Annual Evaluation Review: Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals

15 April, 2021
Expack celebrates its women at workplace and calls for gender diversity

Expack celebrates its women at workplace and calls for gender diversity

15 April, 2021
Jack Ma - Sri Lanka News – BusinessNews.lk |Local|Business|Sports|World

Record penalty for Ma’s Alibaba marks tumultuous stretch for its founder

15 April, 2021
Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines to increase flight frequency to Sri Lanka

15 April, 2021
AIA are champions at the Inter Insurance Company Quiz Competition

AIA are champions at the Inter Insurance Company Quiz Competition

15 April, 2021
DFCC Bank Sri Lanka

DFCC Bank Cardholders enjoy 60% savings and so much more this Avurudu season

15 April, 2021
Nokia HMD Global

HMD Global introduces six new Nokia phones across three distinct lines and continues its move into the mobile services sector

15 April, 2021
Eliminate Hidden Hunger With Promalt Nutritional Drink Mix

Eliminate Hidden Hunger With Promalt Nutritional Drink Mix

15 April, 2021
Dullas Alahapperuma - Sri Lanka News – BusinessNews.lk |Local|Business|Sports|World

The government is responsible for introducing a new electoral system that is appropriate for the country – Min. Dullas Alahapperuma

15 April, 2021
Chinese Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe

Chinese Defense Minister to visit Sri Lanka later this month

15 April, 2021
Aroshana Fernando - Head of Consumer, Private & Business Banking (CPBB) Standard Chartered Sri Lanka

Standard Chartered Sri Lanka appoints Aroshana Fernando to Country Management Team

15 April, 2021
Park & Ride City Bus

Colombo ‘Park and Ride City Bus’ service to be expanded

15 April, 2021
Emirates

Embark on that long-awaited getaway with Emirates and enjoy special fares

15 April, 2021
Sri Lanka News - BusinessNews.lk

Copyright © 2020
Business Studio
Powered by Rani CS

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Local
  • Business
  • Covid-19
  • Sports
  • World
  • Magazine
  • Business – Sinhala

Copyright © 2020
Business Studio
Powered by Rani CS

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist