There is a great write up on em on in the NYT today by Carl Zimmer. I have enjoyed Carl Zimmers work and he does a pretty good job explaining cool science stuff in a way that captures your attention.
but back to the slime molds! here is a cool video that shows just some of the interesting characteristics of slime molds
(on an unrelated note, I really like the music in this. If someone wanted to get it for me that would be awesome)
How do the single cells of the slime mold know how to organize themselves without any sort of nervous system organizing them?
The peculiar characteristic of slime molds to organize themselves can also be used to predict and understand the most efficient way to distribute resources. Because slime molds do not have any of the advantages a circulatory system brings us, slime molds have to adapt in different ways. Scientists have tested slime molds organizational skills by placing food resources in the same patterns as train stations. here we can see the results
