Life at the microbial scale is full of hazards. Microscopic organisms need to be ready to protect themselves from compounds that can break down cell walls or disrupt the processes they need to survive.

But all that vigilance comes at a cost. It requires energy. It’s stressful. According to researchers at Northeastern, a small worm known as Caenorhabditis elegans has evolved a way to take the easy road and freeload off of the protection provided by nearby bacteria.

This story was originally published on August 4th, 2020 on News at Northeastern. Click here to read more.