Matters Microbial #135: Biofilms in Motion—The Adorable Zorbs

Matters Microbial #135: Biofilms in Motion—The Adorable Zorbs July 30, 2026 Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Jo Handelsmann, Shruthi Magesh Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! 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 by Dr. Handelsman, Dr. Magesh, and colleagues that was discussed during today's podcast. A fascinating video by Dr. Handelsman and her path to becoming a microbial scientist. Highly recommended..   Dr. Handelsman's faculty website. The website for the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. Dr. Handelsman's research laboratory website. Intro music is by Reber Clar