White Biotechnology Market to Surpass USD 913.43 Billion by 2032, Revolutionizing Sustainable Solutions Worldwide – Technology Today – EIN Presswire
Image Consulting Market Report: An In-depth Analysis of Growing Demand and Technological Advancements – Technology Today – EIN Presswire
Scientists have uncovered how cyanobacteria — Earth’s first photosynthetic organisms — self-organise into intricate living mats, offering insights into aquatic ecosystems and potential inspiration for material design.
Published in Nature Communications Physics, a new study by Loughborough University and Nottingham Trent University reveals how these microorganisms transition from random, disorganised states to interwoven patterns that form ‘biomats’, uncovering the fundamental principles behind this natural phenomenon.
This feature explores the capabilities of these brilliant bacteria and how the researchers have unravelled one of nature’s oldest mysteries.
Why study cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria are an ancient group of microorganisms with fossils dating back to two billion years ago. They were the first life forms on Earth capable of photosynthesising, contributing to the creation of the planet’s oxygen-rich atmosphere, which made complex life possible.
Today, cyanobacteria remain one of the largest and most significant groups of bacteria, playing a vital role in maintaining the balance of our atmosphere and oceans. They thrive in virtually all aquatic environments across the planet, including frozen Antarctic lakes.
“Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous in any body of water – sea, lakes, rivers”, explains Dr Marco Mazza, an expert in non-equilibrium physics at Loughborough University.
“They produce the lion’s share of the oxygen that we breathe and form one of the bases of the food chain in the ocean.
“Understanding how they build their biomats can help us learn about their role in a variety of ecosystems, provide clues about ancient environments where life first evolved, and also inspire new materials for human use.”
What are biomats?
A single cyanobacterium is incredibly small, typically ranging in size from 1 to 10 micrometres (µm) in diameter, depending on the species. To put this into perspective, the thickness of a human hair ranges from about 70µm to 100µm, meaning that numerous cyanobacteria could fit side by side across its width.
Though tiny, cyanobacteria can form colonies called ‘biomats’, which are visible to the naked eye. These biomats often appear as slippery green slime, commonly referred to as ‘blue-green algae’, and can be found in stagnant water, riverbeds, and along seashores.
Biomats form when cyanobacteria link together to create thread-like filaments. As their numbers grow, these filaments, capable of moving across surfaces, weave together into intricate patterns that build the biomat structure.
Cyanobacteria filaments under a microscope. Image courtesy of Nottingham Trent University.
Remarkably, a biomat the size of an A4 sheet can appear within hours or days and may contain hundreds of millions of cyanobacteria.
These biomats tend to make headlines when freshwater systems are polluted, as the increase of nutrients fuels rapid growth, resulting in the formation of ‘algal blooms’.
Image: Blooming ‘blue-green algae’ (cyanobacteria).
The reason filamentous cyanobacteria weave together is to enhance their survival as biomats provide essential stability and protection. Once formed, the colony functions as a cohesive unit, capable of reorganising its structure in response to changes in water flow, light avaialbity, or nutrient levels, ensuring resilience even under challenging conditions.
“Essentially, cyanobacteria invented weaving and knitting before humans”, said Dr Mazza.
“And, as is often the case, we can learn new tricks from the natural world. Imagine if we could create smart clothing or responsive materials that adapt to changes in the external conditions.
“But first we need to understand how cyanobacteria arrange themselves into biomats – a mystery we are now starting to unravel.”
Unravelling cyanobacteria’s biomats
Loughborough University and Nottingham Trent University researchers have been working together to try and understand how cyanobacteria filaments arrange themselves into the patterns seen in biomats.
Using advanced microscopy techniques, simulations and theoretical models, the team previously revealed that when cyanobacteria are present at a high enough density, they begin to organise themselves into patterns by following a few simple rules.
The researchers developed a model to map this behaviour and their new study compares the model’s predictions to real-world experiments.
The team cultivated a type of cyanobacteria called Oscillatoria lutea and, using a high-resolution laser scanning microscope, captured how the filaments interact and self-organise at varying densities, and how a biomat develops over time.
Left: Cyanobacterium cultivated in a laboratory setting. Right: Filaments under the microscope. Image courtesy of Nottingham Trent University.
The results show that the model accurately captures how cyanobacteria filaments transition from a random, disorganised state to intricate, web-like patterns over time. It successfully captures both the early stages of pattern formation and the development of stable, large-scale structures.
Image: Time-lapse images show how Oscillatoria lutea filaments self-organise into intricate patterns. Panels (a–e) are microscope images of real cyanobacteria, while panels (f–k) are model simulations replicating the same conditions. Both experiments and simulations demonstrate how small features emerge and gradually form stable patterns over a few hours. Original figure caption at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-024-01866-5
The research also reveals that cyanobacteria filament density and motility (ability to move) play a crucial role in pattern formation, with the most organised and stable patterns emerging when filament density and motility are high.
Filament length also plays a role: longer filaments tend to form more aligned, ordered patterns, while shorter filaments create denser but less organised arrangements.
Image: The mosaic of images illustrates how cyanobacteria filaments form stable patterns under different conditions. Each panel represents a simulation and they show how filament arrangement changes with density (area coverage, Φ) and motility (Péclet number, Pe). Original figure caption at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-024-01866-5
The importance of the research
Professor Lucas Goehring, who led the experimental work at Nottingham Trent University, said of the research: “This work shows how the remarkably complex behaviours of biomats, the Earth’s earliest expressions of multicellular life, can be explained by a few simple rules.
“What I found surprising is that the same rules that explain the patterns in mature biomats can also explain, without any significant adjustment, how these patterns grow up.
“The timescales and features that emerge from the model can immediately explain the first few hours of a biofilm colony’s life, as well as its ultimate shape and structure.”
When asked about the importance of the findings, study lead Dr Jan Cammann, a Research Associate in Mathematics at Loughborough University, said: “Now that we understand the mechanisms behind cyanobacteria’s organisation into complex biomats, we can start to explore how cyanobacteria biomats respond to physical and chemical changes in their environment.
“Understanding this can help us understand how biomats stabilise sediments in coastal regions and understand how we can prevent biomats forming on ships and other marine structures.
“Ultimately, we hope to further the understanding of one of the most crucial members of the ecosystem whose ability to shape their environment is astonishing.”
The team say that the findings could also help guide future research into how different types of bacteria organise themselves to form structures.
“It could improve our understanding of how bacterial biofilms – collections of bacteria that have attached to a surface and each other – are formed”, says Dr Cammann.
“This knowledge is critical given the central role of biofilms in various processes, such as human infections, environmental degradation, and bioengineering.”
The Nature Communications Physics paper, titled ‘Topological transition in filamentous cyanobacteria: from motion to structure’, can be read in full online.
Further information on the Loughborough University and Nottingham Trent University cyanobacteria research can be found in this video:
[embedded content]
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 25/05
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running.
Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 – the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen’s Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
Following our previous look at an opening for a Chairperson of Graduate Architecture at The Pratt Institute School of Architecture, we are using the first 2025 edition of our Job Highlights series to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for a Museum Technology Manager at the California Science Center.
Based in Los Angeles, the role calls for a “dynamic leader with a passion for delivering impactful museum installations through meticulous planning and execution.” The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of digital media, interactive displays, and immersive technologies, including managing project timelines, coordinating resources, and driving innovation in installation design.
Among the qualifications for the role are a Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, exhibit design, arts administration, theme park management, or a related field as well as three or more years experience in logistics and project management within the museum, exhibit design, experience design, fine art, theme park, film production management, or related industries.
Image credit: ZGF Architects LLPWhy the role interests us
The open role at the California Science Center comes as the center nears completion on a major expansion project at its Los Angeles Exposition park location. Named the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, the new complex will host the decommissioned Space Shuttle Endeavour when completed in mid-2025.
Archinect first reported on the expansion in June 2022, when ZGF Architects unveiled details of the project as it broke ground. The 200,000-square-foot center was designed to expand the museum’s programmable exhibition space by 110,00 square feet, arranged around three thematic galleries, named Air, Space, and Shuttle.
Image credit: California Science CenterIn January 2024, the iconic Space Shuttle Endeavour was transported to the site to be positioned in its permanent home within the center. The shuttle is housed within a gallery rising 20 stories to a maximum height of 200 feet, complete with its solid rocket boosters and external tank positioned in a vertical ‘ready to launch’ configuration. The gallery thus contains the only complete stack of space shuttle flight hardware in the world.
In October, we reported on the topping out of the $425 million center. When completed in mid-2025, the project will represent the final phase of the California Science Center’s three-phase, three-decade master plan to develop a comprehensive educational center across LA’s Exposition Park.
Image credit: California Science CenterFurther reading for interested candidates
Job Highlights is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our Meet Your Next Employer series profiles and interviews interesting studios with open positions currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.
A new exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London this month, the excitedly titled Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism, brings together work made between the 1910s and 1970s by ten Brazilian artists, including Tarsila do Amaral, Alfredo Volpi, Djanira and Candido Portinari. The period was one of experimentation as the country’s artists developed their own distinctive type of Modernism amid a backdrop of political upheaval. The show’s assistant curator, Rebecca Bray, has selected the following five key books, available in English, to help anyone get to grips with Brazilian Modernism. Modernity in Black and White: Art and Image, Race and Identity in Brazil, 1890-1945 (2021) by Rafael Cardoso“This challenges the dominant narrative of Brazilian Modernism’s origin myth—the 1922 Semana de Arte Moderna—by highlighting earlier, diverse expressions of modernity. The book’s rich critical analysis of race, identity and visual culture provides a comprehensive and nuanced view of Brazilian art and society in the first half of the 20th century.”Macunaíma (1928) by Mário de Andrade“The writer and photographer Mário de Andrade was a key voice within Brazilian Modernism. His novel Macunaíma, a cornerstone of Modernist literature, follows a shapeshifting ‘hero’, blending folklore, mythology and social critique to explore Brazilian identity. Katrina Dodson’s recent translation wonderfully captures his playfully inventive use of language and immerses the reader in the atmosphere of heady excitement.”Transatlantic Encounters (2018) by Michele Greet“This book is crucial for understanding the participation of Brazilian and other Latin American artists in the avant-garde scene of inter-war Paris. It explores artists’ varying responses to the expectations of primitivism they encountered, challenging Eurocentric narratives. By examining the cultural exchanges and artistic innovations of these artists, Michele Greet provides overdue recognition of their role in shaping a global Modernist art.”Form and Feeling: The Making of Concretism in Brazil (2021), edited by Antonio Sergio Bessa“A multi-faceted narrative of Brazil’s abstract Concrete art and the experience-based Neo-Concrete movement that grew out of it. As well as exploring the visual and formal aspects of Concretism, the collection offers fresh perspectives on the movement’s impact on art, poetry and pedagogy, and underscores its influence on contemporary Brazilian culture.”Today Is Always Yesterday: Contemporary Brazilian Art (2013) by Michael Asbury“Today is Always Yesterday links Modernism to today in a compelling exploration of contemporary Brazilian art. Michael Asbury examines the historical constructs and cultural myths of Brazil, illustrating how art can both reflect and shape history. The book’s chapters are structured around the colours of the Brazilian flag, offering a unique and insightful perspective.”• Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 28 January-21 April
The premiere for Robbie Williams’ critically acclaimed biopic Better Man in Los Angeles has been cancelled. On Tuesday morning, a massive 1,200-acre brush fire tore through celebrity enclave the Pacific Palisades and an evacuation order has since been put into effect. The Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement: “The Palisades Fire is burning…
Will Rutgers star freshman Kiyomi McMiller return to the court for Wednesday night’s Big Ten contest at Minnesota?McMiller practiced and traveled with the team on Tuesday, Rutgers Associate Director of Communications Erin Neri confirmed to NJ Advance Media, but her availability is being kept under wraps. The team declined to comment on McMiller’s status for the game, deferring NJ Advance Media to the availability report, which will be released at 5 p.m. ET. McMiller was suspended from Sunday’s game against No. 4 USC and announced her status on Instagram hours before tip-off, sparking a social media frenzy. In the post, she apologized to her fans and revealed that the decision belonged to Rutgers coach Coquese Washington.A slideshow posted to McMiller’s Instagram Stories the following day contained screenshots of negative fan reaction and articles about the team’s 92-42 loss to USC. Without McMiller, Rutgers’ offense struggled against the Trojans. The Scarlet Knights committed 27 turnovers and had just five team assists, while USC racked up 17 steals.Since then, speculation surrounding McMiller’s future with the program has spread. Her father, Mike McMiller, dispelled any transfer rumors in an interview with On3 on Monday.McMiller is averaging 19.9 points per game, the second most in the Big Ten behind USC’s JuJu Watkins (25.1). She also leads Rutgers in total assists (45). In December, the Maryland native and Jordan Brand athlete garnered back-to-back Big Ten freshman of the week accolades. If she competes on Wednesday night, she’ll go head-to-head with another high-profile, Big Ten freshman in Minnesota’s Tori McKinney. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Minnesota’s Williams Arena. MORE:Suspended Rutgers star’s dad comments on transfer rumorsRutgers star is doubling down on dissatisfaction over suspensionAdvisor to five-star Rutgers freshman hints at transfer after ‘shocking’ suspensionRutgers coach addresses five-star guard’s absence in crushing loss to USCRutgers five-star freshman says coach is benching her vs. No. 4 USC, JuJu WatkinsThank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.Joey Chandler may be reached at [email protected]
Dr. Gounder on mosquito bite prevention
Dr. Celine Gounder on mosquito-borne diseases and climate change
03:30
Genetically engineered mosquitoes with toxic semen could be a new weapon against tropical disease, Australian scientists said after trialing the novel pest control method.The “toxic male technique” aims to breed mosquitoes that express venomous proteins in their semen, killing off females after mating.Female mosquitoes are targeted because only they bite and drink blood, thereby spreading diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.Scientist Sam Beach from Australia’s Macquarie University said the method “could work as quickly as pesticides without also harming beneficial species.””This innovative solution could transform how we manage pests, offering hope for healthier communities and a more sustainable future,” Beach said.The first proof-of-concept trials used fruit flies, a common laboratory species favored for its short two-week life cycle.Female flies that bred with “toxic” males had a significantly reduced lifespan, the scientists found.Researcher Maciej Maselko said the team would now trial the method in mosquitoes.”We still need to implement it in mosquitoes and conduct rigorous safety testing to ensure there are no risks to humans or other non-target species,” he said.
The mosquitoes would need to be genetically modified so they only expressed the toxic semen once they were released into the wild, the researchers said.
Intergenerational vs intragenerational genetic biocontrol of pest insects.
Nature Communications
This could be done through so-called “conditional expression” techniques, which use chemicals or other biological triggers to turn specific genes on or off at will.This would allow venomous males to successfully mate with females in lab conditions, producing enough viable offspring for the technique to be scaled up.Genetic engineering has been used for years to control populations of disease-spreading mosquitoes.Typically, these approaches slow reproduction by releasing hordes of male insects that are genetically modified to be sterile.Computer models showed techniques actively killing biting females could be far more effective, the research team said.The research was described in a paper published by peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications on Tuesday evening.
The mosquito has killed as many as 50 billion people over the course of human existence. Africa bears the brunt of malaria, with 95% of the fatal cases recorded every year, and children under the age of 5 make up about 80% of those deaths. The malaria parasite spreads to people bitten by infected mosquitos, and causes initial symptoms including high fever, headache and chills.Mosquitoes are responsible for millions of yearly deaths worldwide from malaria, dengue fever and other diseases, according to the World Health Organization. Eastern equine encephalitis virus is also spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Last year, a New York resident who tested positive for EEE died, and in 2019, the CDC reported at least 15 people died in the U.S. from the rare disease.
By A.J. Griffiths-Jones
Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the ‘Cemetery of Forgotten Books’, a labyrinthine library of obscure and forgotten titles overseen by a caretaker with an equally mysterious past. It is to here that bookshop owner Senor Sempere brings his ten-year-old son, Daniel, on a freezing cold morning in 1945.
Daniel is permitted to peruse the shelves and choose one book to take as his own, his choice being The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax, a novel that will become both a treasure and the cause for his life becoming embroiled in danger.
As Daniel grows up it becomes evident there are several people who take much more than a passing interest in his literary find, but he is resolved not to sell his precious book, instead embarking upon a mission to find out the fate of its author.
However, Julian Carax is not an easy man to locate, the only trail to his whereabouts being the mysterious Lain Coubert, a cloaked figure bearing the same name as Carax’ main protagonist. It is this man, hiding in the shadows, whom Daniel becomes most afraid of, uncertain of what his presence means and how it connects to the author’s disappearance some years earlier.
Despite it being unknown whether the elusive writer is dead or alive, one thing is evident, Coubert is intent upon finding and destroying any remaining copies of Julian Carax’ work and will go to any lengths to achieve his goal.
In his quest for the truth, quiet and sensible Daniel Sempere meets a host of misfits, some of whom he comes to hold in confidence, such as Fermin Romero de Torres, a vibrant and knowledgeable tramp whom the young man takes under his wing and saves from living on the streets by installing him in the family bookstore.
Fermin becomes invaluable at unearthing clues, mastering disguise as he goes undercover to interview old friends of Carax. The relationship between the pair deepens quite quickly, with some tender and humorous moments playing out, especially as Fermin insists upon sharing his profound experience of love with his young protégé.
The rather deep thorn in Fermin’s side is Detective Inspector Fumero, a corrupt and violent man, with whom he has a rather dark history. Fumero is also searching for the elusive Julian Carax for the sake of his own agenda and will use any means possible to attain the truth.
Of course, no epic tale of this genre would be complete without a touch of romance and, after finding the object of his infatuation, Clara, in the arms of her piano teacher, Daniel Sempere falls in love with his best friend’s sister, a young woman he had previously deemed far out of his reach.
Despite Bea already being betrothed to an officer of the Spanish Army, it doesn’t take long for her true feelings towards Daniel to be revealed, as a slow and beautiful courtship unfolds. Together the pair successfully begin to unravel the path that led to Julian Carax’ heart being broken and the reason for his disappearance from both Barcelona and the world of publishing.
The culminating scenes are tense, played out against the dark skies and gathering storms of one of the world’s most beautiful cities, with police inspector Fumero hot on the heels of our hero as he uncovers the truth behind The Shadow of the Wind.
In this epic piece of literature Zafon has created a classical tale of cat and mouse and turned it into a masterpiece. Using Barcelona as the backdrop for this story makes every scene dramatic and steeped in history, urging the reader to embark on a trip to see where the chase was played out, from the tiny cafes in Barcelona’s backstreets to the calm shores and imposing mountains.
The opening chapters take place just six years after the Spanish Civil War, and the author has captured the sense of distrust and fear in the city’s inhabitants perfectly, adding an atmosphere of suspense and intensity.
This is a novel to digest in several sittings, as there are a host of wonderful characters to acquaint yourself with and plenty of clues littered throughout the chapters. It’s hardly surprising that many fans of Zafon’s work read his books over again, as there is much to enjoy within the pages of his novels and some unforgettable moments that you will undoubtedly want to relive.
Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu’s debut drama film, We Were Dangerous, is centered around a reformation school for ‘delinquent’ girls. Set in 1950s New Zealand, the film addresses the reformation attempts organized by the Christian missionaries and sanctioned by the state to largely ‘civilize’ Indigenous girls who were either ostracized by their families or did not have anyone they could call their own. The Matron, a Maori woman, was a dedicated Christian nun who had learned at a young age that if she obeyed her mother superior, adhered to patriarchal norms, and abided by Christian teachings, her life would be easy. She was determined to improve the lives of the girls enrolled in the reformation school; her goal was to turn them into disciplined, docile individuals perfect for the marriage market. However, convincing the girls to comply was not an easy task, and things escalated when three students attempted to escape from the school.
Spoiler Alert
Why were the students transferred to the deserted island?
Nellie, Daisy, and Pauline had attempted to escape from the school, but they were unsuccessful. We discovered that Pauline had suffered a fracture, and the authorities had discovered that she was pregnant. The Matron was subjected to questioning by a government official; Pauline’s pregnancy was a clear indication that, on certain days, the Matron had failed. The government had come up with a solution—transfer the girls to a remote island, where previously prisoners of war, lepers, and explorers had been accommodated. Since the facility was no longer in use, they believed it was the perfect place for the girls to stay. While the Matron was hopeful that she would succeed in reforming the girls, the state was open to the idea of keeping the girls stranded on the island till menopause.
So who were the delinquents that the state was so keen on keeping locked up on a faraway island? The Matron categorized her students as disobedient wives, vagrants, strays, whores, sex delinquents, and queers. A new student, Louisa, had joined the school, and the Matron clearly favored her. Unlike the other students, Louisa belonged to a wealthy family; her father was a doctor, and after discovering that his daughter was homosexual, he assumed enrolling her in a reformation school would help ‘fix’ her. Louisa befriended Nellie and Daisy, two Maori girls who considered themselves cousins. Nellie had a loving family, and her ending up in the school was quite a coincidence. After the meat processing factory closed down in her hometown, she was sent to town to work for a woman one of her aunts knew. She waited at the train station, but her employers never showed up. She was hungry but did not have money to buy anything from the display trays at a bakery she came across. All of a sudden, she noticed a young girl steal a cream bun from the shop and devour it. That was when she met Daisy. Unlike Nellie, Daisy never had a family. She had grown up in foster homes, and by the age of twelve, she had escaped from all of them. When Daisy met Nellie, it was as if she had found a long-lost friend and they were having a gala time before a policeman showed up and asked them to empty their pockets. They had fifteen stolen items.
Nellie looked after Daisy; she had become her protective elder sister and they were a mischievous pair. They detested the Matron and often did things just to get on her nerves. Two scenes that were particularly powerful and moving were when Daisy and Nellie performed the Maori haka with the rest of the students and later, their rock and roll performance. The Matron was furious seeing the girls defy rules and resist her Christian teachings, and even though she punished them they did not seem to care.
What prompted the girls to take action?
Life on the island was dull, but the girls, especially Nellie, Daisy, and Louisa, always found ways to entertain themselves. They had found a secret stash of alcohol and a diary in their room, and from the diary, they learned about a Chinese man named Kim Chang who everyone on the island assumed was a leper and was ostracized from the compound. He’d made himself a makeshift shack but ultimately died of pneumonia and heart failure. His body was studied, and no sign of leprosy was found. Chang’s story resonated with the girls; just like him, they were cast out by society simply because they dared to defy norms.
The girls became concerned when they noticed that one of their classmates was dragged into the clinic. Previously, the room was kept locked because the Matron feared that the girls would become too independent if they learned first aid. But later, a doctor approached her and proposed that she consider a medical experiment. He feared that with the rampant rise of the use of contraception, the ideal Christian way would be abandoned and more young women would ‘entice’ men to engage in sexual activities. He suggested that instead of thinking that the girls would ever become wives and mothers, it was important that the Matron find a solution to the problem first. We are not told the nature of the experiment that the doctor suggested, but it seemed to be a way to control young women’s sexual urges.
Nellie was curious, and she managed to sneak into the Matron’s room and came across a leaflet about the experiment. When Louisa read about it, she decided to alert her father. She wrote a letter and kept it in the stack of mail that was yet to be taken to the post office. The Matron somehow intercepted her plan and asked Louisa to at least hide her problems and pretend to be saved so that she could go back to her usual life. Nellie was convinced they had no option but to burn down the clinic. Louisa showed hesitation. By helping Nellie and Daisy, she endangered her chances of going back to her old life.
Were the girls successful?
It appeared Louisa had chosen her freedom over helping her friends. She became more attentive in class, obeyed every instruction, and soon became the Matron’s favorite. Meanwhile, during room inspection, when the Matron found a pair of scissors in Nellie’s room, she punished the young girl by chopping off her hair. Nellie refused to ever forgive the Matron. The next day when the Matron asked Daisy to read a passage from the Bible, Nellie reminded her that Daisy could not read. She also expressed that she was convinced the school had no intention of teaching them anything worthwhile; without education, they could never be civilized, and all that the school cared about was that they did not get pregnant. She cursed the Matron openly, and to her surprise, Louisa slapped her across her face, the Matron asked her to take Nellie outside the class and pour a bucket of cold water on her. That night, Nellie and Daisy made Molotov cocktails, or their version of it, in their room. Nellie added her chopped hair because the revenge was quite personal.
In We Were Dangerous’s ending, Nellie and Daisy burned down the clinic, just like they had planned, and by the time the Matron discovered what had transpired, it was already too late.
What does the ending mean for the girls?
The next morning, when the Matron lined up the girls to find out who was responsible for burning down the clinic, she discovered that Nellie, Daisy, and Louisa were missing. So, where was Louisa? We Were Dangerous led us to think that Louisa had abandoned her friends to win the Matron’s favor. But the ending of the film confirms that Louisa’s obedience was also a part of their plan. She had offered to help Nellie and Daisy even though she knew the risk it posed. She had finally found friends who did not judge her and never cared about rules and lessons; they were free, and she wanted to become a part of the group. Louisa pretended to be a good student so that she could steal kerosene from the kitchen for the Molotov cocktail. The Matron fell for her act, and their plan was a success. Louisa had shifted to another room, and she was informed beforehand about the plan, and she managed to sneak out on time.
Not only did they make Molotov cocktails, but they had also built a makeshift raft. They used tools from the island caretaker, Barry’s toolbox, and they hid the raft in the shack that the Chinese man who had died on the island had built. They pulled out the raft after successfully burning down the clinic, and they started sailing at dawn. The girls had broad smiles on their faces; the plan which might have seemed unachievable at first turned out to be successful. They were free, and they had each other for company. Maybe they ended up in the city and came up with ways to stay afloat. They had learned their lesson and possibly did not repeat the same mistakes that resulted in them ending up at the reform school. Louisa perhaps had learned to be more discreet about her sexuality or found more people she could relate to. Daisy hopefully learned to read, and Nellie took the lead and came up with ways to make money. They probably never met men in the 50s who could understand their desire for freedom, but they had found sisterhood, and that was quite the achievement. We can only hope that Nellie, Daisy, and Louisa never had to explain themselves to others, or be ashamed for who they were. They clearly had a lot of clarity about the kind of life they wanted to live, and hopefully they fought back every time society tried to put them in shackles.
Related