If when you wake up in the morning your teeth feel sticky, this indicates bacteria that live in your mouth have formed a slimy structure called a biofilm. To do this, they engage in a very special form of communication using chemical signals.  Furthermore, bacteria in the ocean communicate with one another as well as with the tiny planktonic algae which provide about half of the world´s primary production to the global carbon cycle. Our scientists are deciphering these processes in order to be able to influence them, for instance to prevent caries.