According to a team of researchers at Columbia University, it's possible to use computer-type circuitry to "listen in" on communication between bacteria cells.
The purpose of the technology is to help understand how biofilms form. Biofilms are complex communities of microbial cells that grow together, and about 60 percent to 80 percent of microbial infections in humans are caused by these bacteria.
While the new chip can only listen to bacteria now, sceintists hope it one day can be used to interrupt "conversations" between bacteria cells to keep the community of cells causing an infection from growing.
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Sourced from: Medical News Today, Scientists create computer chips that can ‘listen’ to bacteria