New studies from Arizona State University reveal surprising ways bacteria can move without their flagella - the slender, whip-like propellers that usually drive them forward. Movement lets bacteria ...

In the classic “run-and-tumble” movement pattern, bacteria swim forward (“run”) in one direction and then stop to rotate and reorient themselves in a new direction (“tumble”). During experiments where ...

Bacteria that rarely tumble are likely to get trapped by obstacles, slowing dispersion. Bacteria that tumble frequently often “retrace their steps,” also slowing dispersion. Dispersion is maximized by ...