Episode Details
Back to EpisodesBiofilms in Motion—The Adorable Zorbs
Episode 135
Published 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Description
Matters Microbial #135: Biofilms in Motion—The Adorable Zorbs July 30, 2026
Host: Mark O. Martin
Guest: Jo Handelsmann, Shruthi Magesh
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Links for this episode- Here is a link to the Etsy shop where one can buy the wonderful "THIS IS WHAT A MICROBIOLOGIST LOOKS LIKE" enamel pins.
- Here is a link to the World Microbiome Day website.
- Here is a link to the interesting work of Contamination Club.
- The story of Alexander Fleming's famous contaminant that led to the discovery of penicillin.
- Here is a link to Dr. Handelsman's recent book, "A World Without Soil." Highly recommended.
- The website for Dr. Handelsman's wonderful "Tiny Earth" program, helping students worldwide to screen soil for antimicrobial production (and learning about microbial diversity).
- An overview of the microbial complexity of soil.
- A video overview of biofilms.
- A video overview of types of bacterial motility.
- A video overview of "gliding motility" among bacteria.
- Some bacteria can "hitchhike" or are carried by other bacteria, such as Paenibacillus.
- Learning about an odd sport involving "zorbs."
- An introductory essay on "zorbing" and motility.
- Another introductory essay on "co-zorbing," the topic of today's discussion.
- A description of Flavobacterium johnsoniae, which carries out "zorbing."
- The original article on THOR ("The Hitchhikers of the Rhizosphere") by Dr. Handelsman and colleagues.
- The original "zorb" paper by Dr. Handelsman and colleagues that was discussed during today's podcast.
- The "co-zorb" paper
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