CU Boulder scientists have discovered that individual E. coli bacteria can sense their environment through electrical signals, similar to how humans perceive touch. When poked, the bacteria emit voltage-induced calcium ion signals, marking the first observation of electrical excitability in bacteria. This finding could advance research on bacteria and potentially aid drug development. The study reveals that bacteria use electrical signals to modify behavior, such as infecting cells more efficiently on stiff surfaces. Understanding this could help in developing drugs to block these signals, potentially reducing bacterial infections and combating antibiotic resistance. The research was published in PNAS.