CURRENT biological models assume that many bacteria spread in a run-and-tumble pattern of diffusion, based on behavior in liquid laboratory cultures. But new research from Princeton University shows the tiny organisms actually use a hopping motion to move among tight spots in natural surroundings like the human intestine. The observations led to a new model that is 10 times more accurate than previous models, and could help improve a wide range of medical and environmental technologies. The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.
