Posts tagged as:

Plasmodial slime molds

The One Cell Planning Commission

January 31, 2010

Behold, the artful amoeba itself — a slime mold. In this case, it is Physarum polycephalum, the lab rat of plasmodial slimes. Scientists in Japan have been leading the world in creative slime mold research, demonstrating about 10 years ago (when I was first learning about these creatures) that slime molds could solve mazes. If [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Finally, the Slimes! Some Wet Colorado Crannies in a Dry Late August, Part III

September 8, 2009

At last, two actual slime molds! As hard as I searched, the best I could find were plenty of tiny white-spored objects (fungi) erupting from the wood. I learned slime mold spores tend not to be white. : ( But local slime mold expert Mary Jane Howell’s sharp eyes picked out two (not so slimy) [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Gone Slime Mold Huntin’

August 30, 2009

In yet another sign of what an incredibly big dork I am, I have arranged to go slime mold collecting with Rocky Mountain National Park’s volunteer slime mold expert. We will be going to an undisclosed mountainous location well outside the park. I am bringing my shockingly inadequate camera but if I find anything worth [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Lacy Double Take

June 25, 2009

The other day I was walking by the coffee table at work and noticed a Science magazine cover that made me do a 180. First, take a look at this. Now examine this:
Striking, no? And strange as it may seem, neither one of these creatures was the inspiration for the Boston street “grid”. Those Bostonians [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

Today this leaf . . . tomorrow the world!

March 30, 2009

Ed. note: This is a repost from facebook. I’ll be reposting a few things to get this blog kicked off. Apologies to those who have already seen it! j.f.
Many of you know about my slightly (ok, entirely) unnatural slime mold obsession. They’re weird, cool-looking, and semi-sentient. And they’re even here in Colorado! I found three [...]

1 comment Read the full article →