Birds, Bees & Bacteria: Nature's Secrets

Until recently scientists assumed that unlike us, bacteria never rest. However, our cutting-edge research at the John Innes Centre has shown us that while bacteria don’t sleep, they do have daily rhythms in their activity, known as circadian rhythms. This may seem like just a curious fact, but this knowledge could impact big parts of our lives, from farming and climate change to biotechnology and medicine. I will talk about what circadian rhythms are and what they do, what we currently know about bacterial circadian rhythms, and why we think they are both important and exciting!

In a bumblebee colony the queen sits on the throne, but all the workers are equal, right? But what if some workers are more equal than others? Some bumblebee workers are able to reach long lifespans and also produce their own offspring. Other, less fortunate workers, only live short lives, may never reproduce or are having to pay high costs of reproduction. What makes such super-workers? Is it related to the nursery quality, or do you have to be born with these super-powers? What role do your peers play, or may social isolation be the answer? And with this knowledge, can we help support wild colonies produce more super-workers?

Birds are nature’s musicians, each species adding unique sounds to create a rich, ever-changing soundscape. Over the past few decades, these soundscapes have been fading. Declines in bird species and habitat loss is changing the chorus of nature. Understanding how different birds shape this soundtrack is key to preserving it. By tuning in, we can protect nature’s symphony before it fades.