Slime Mold - In Petri
Slime mold is one of nature's most fascinating organisms - and you can grow it yourself! Grab a slime mold kit with live Physarum polycephalum and watch as a single glowing yellow cell spreads across its habitat, forming intricate neon-yellow webs in search of food. Experiment with mazes, different food sources, light, and moisture to discover how this remarkable organism explores, adapts, and solves problems. It's a fun, hands-on way to experience the hidden intelligence of the natural world!
Slime Mold - Food Preference?
Slime mold uses chemical sensing, called chemotaxis, to explore its environment. It detects molecules released by different foods and spices and changes the direction of its growth in response.
I gave slime mold a choice of four spices: garlic, paprika, red pepper, and cinnamon. Which one do you think it avoided?
Fruiting Bodies
Slime mold has several life stages. Physarum polycephalum spends most of its life as a bright yellow, crawling plasmodium that searches for food, but as it runs out of food or conditions become less favorable, it forms tiny black fruiting bodies. These structures produce and release millions of spores that can grow into new slime molds.
If you keep your slime mold in a Petri dish long enough, you may be lucky enough to see this amazing transformation!
