Bubbles are ubiquitous in many research applications, from ultrasound imaging to understanding volcanic eruptions. They are also excellent acoustic resonators, being very small in size compared to the wavelength of the sound they emit. These resonant sound waves contain information about the mechanical properties of materials in the immediate vicinity of the bubble. In a recent publication in Nature Communications, a collaboration between LIPhy's Optima and Move teams proposes to exploit this phenomenon to image a sample by moving a bubble in its vicinity.

By combining a numerical modeling approach with experiments in both structural and cellular biology, the APERTuRe project has led to a better understanding of the dynamics of a protein network in the cytoplasm of our cells. These results could prove useful in the development of new drugs.

A Franco-American collaboration has demonstrated that in the microcirculatory network, some red blood cells can take unexpected routes to get from one point to another. This experimental observation should lead to more precise modeling of the mechanisms of oxygenation and elimination of the residues of cellular activity within the blood network.

In an article published in Nature Microbiology, scientists have deciphered the rapid gliding strategy of the parasitic microbe Toxoplasma gondii within the host organism's tissues. They show how the parasite is able to hold on tightly enough without sticking to its substrate to glide efficiently. By explaining how a minimal adhesion system is able to generate rapid movement within complex microenvironments, they open up perspectives for other models of cellular interactions.

Reputed for its placidity, the plant world is not entirely silent, however, and some plants can even perceive acoustic vibrations. Philippe Marmottant is a guest on France Culture's CQFD program.

Milton Gomez (UNIL, Switzerland)

Olivier Ali (Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, ENS Lyon)

Eloina Corradi (MICROTISS)