Myxomycetes

I’ve always been fascinated by slime moulds.

Neither plant nor animal nor fungus, these alien creatures strike me as a metaphor for the best of humanity. Single-celled organisms of the kingdom Protista, slime moulds spend part of their lives independently consuming bacteria, fungi, and yeasts on decaying plant matter. But when food runs out, they join forces with others of their kind and form one multicellular body, allowing them to travel toward the resources they need or form “fruiting bodies” – which sometimes resemble mushrooms – to reproduce. They play an important part of Earth’s ecosystems as they help break down organic matter, putting nutrients back into the system to be consumed by other organisms.

Despite their lack of anything resembling a nervous system or brain, slime moulds have been proven to have the capacity to remember, learn, and solve problems. Scientists are using this to pinpoint how and when learning may have evolved. One slime mould famously mapped the Tokyo subway system!

There are thought to be around 900 species of slime mould in the world, of all different shapes and colours, and I would encourage everyone to dive into learning about these creepy and beautiful creatures. The ones honoured in this not-at-all-to-scale art piece are Physarum polycephalum and Trichia decipiens.

Music: "ti" from Trying (2020) by Philip Cornett