Transition of global motion modes in bacterial active solids controlled by activity

Transition of global motion modes in bacterial active solids controlled by activity. A bacterial active solid derived from early-stage P. mirabilis biofilms was initially undergoing global oscillatory translation. Stating from T = 50 s, it was continuously illuminated by 406 nm violet light and as the cell activity was decreased by violet light, the motion of the bacterial active solid transited to oscillatory rotation mode. The activity (the average collective speed) of the active solid is shown below the time stamp. Scale bar, 200 μm.

See: Xu et al., Nature Physics 19, 46–51 (2023).