Peaceful microbes outlast aggressive rivals in harsh, frequently disrupted environments

Peaceful microbes outlast aggressive rivals in harsh, frequently disrupted environments

On the battlefield that is the microbial world, where microorganisms often try to wipe out the competition by producing various toxins, sometimes it helps to be a pacifist.

For microbes in harsh environments, it’s survival of the meekest

Cornell researchers have found that peaceful microbes are more likely to thrive, and their more aggressive peers perish, if their environment is harsh or experiences violent disruptions.