In this episode, we climb into the world of nematode architecture — worm towers!
Researchers have now captured Caenorhabditis worms forming vertical towers in nature — self-assembled living structures that help worms hitch rides and bridge gaps as a form of collective dispersal.
We explore:
First real-world evidence of towering in C. elegans and other Caenorhabditis species
Lab experiments that trigger towering in controlled conditions
How worms of all life stages can join towers — not just dauers
Towers that grow, bend, and bridge gaps to reach new environments
How touch alone can trigger towers to transfer en masse to new habitats
📖 Based on the research article:
“Towering behavior and collective dispersal in Caenorhabditis nematodes”
Daniela M. Perez, Ryan Greenway, Thomas Stier, Narcís Font-Massot, Assaf Pertzelan, Siyu Serena Ding
Published in Current Biology (2025)
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.05.026
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