The Unseen Majority (WIP)
Bacteria Takeover
There are 100 million times as many bacteria in the oceans as stars in the known universe - a statistic that is difficult to understand and nearly impossible to visualize. Indeed, the human eye can't see the microscopic life that enables our very existence. They massively outnumber all other living organisms, making it clear that their patterns, behaviors and evolutionary shifts will have a profound impact on the ecological cycles of our planet.
This project aims to observe, track and interact with these microbes in order to create a channel of understanding and communication with the invisible majority, Specifically looking at the affects and consequences of climate change on this hidden world, and it turn, on the world as we know it.
Responsibilities: Big-Picture Thinking, Story Telling, Video Editing, Data Analysis, Sterile Lab Methods, Timelapse Photography, Visual Analysis, Machine Learning Software
Bacteria Exhale
Analyzing hundreds of bacteria studies, Thomas Smith and team outlined detailed data of over 400 microbes and the effect of increasing temperatures on their respiration rates (carbon release).
The graph below visually translates the respiration rate increase in 24 bacteria (of the class Bacilli), as temperatures increase.
Bacteria Quorum Sensing
When bacteria communicate to perform behaviors it is called quorum sensing. Bioluminescence and biofilm formation are examples of that which can be observed by the human eye. Below are timelapse studies of individual Bacillus Subtilis cells coming together to form a highly architectural biofilm to ensure communal thriving and survival. Growth is rapid and the amount of individual bacterial cells are shockingly numerous.
Bacillus Subtilis Biofilm
Growth Time: 10 hours at 30°C
~1,200,000,000 cells [28.27cm²]
The number of cells in this petri dish are equivalent to the number of people currently living in Africa.
Bacillus Subtilis Biofilm
Growth Time: 10 hours at 30°C
~2,500,000,000 cells [63.62cm²]
The number of cells in the petri dish are equivalent to the amount of heartbeats during one lifetime.
Microbial Responses
The trickle down effect of climate change on the broad microbial ecosystem of the ocean.
Microbial Cloud
A visualization of the usually invisible microbial cloud and it's quickly increasing mass
with warming temperatures.
