Bacterial language discoveries:

I got excited when I read this link (http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/050310_talking_bacteria.html) then disgusted at the cheap and vulgar turn taken by the story.

Let me explain:

Bacteria converse chemically in the same way we talk using sounds. They have metabolic sensors within their own species of bacteria, but a newly discovered chemical AI-2 connects them to the bacterial internet, allowing cross-species communication with bacteria.

The application of all this?

We can develop drugs that interfere with bacterial collective conversation and censor them! For an Australiane example regarding cholera, see http://www.livescience.com/imageoftheday/siod_041208.html

And what does Gaia think about all this interference in her activities? The answer is here: http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/050128_bacteria_sonar.html

Sonar-equipped bacteria, that can detect dangerous threats to their well being by bouncing a signal of the toxin like bats do off walls. Do take that, human underlings! :-)