Micro bio things

2022-11-06

Intelligence in single-celled organisms

Physarum polycephalum aka "the Blob" is a yellow, single-celled (multi-nucleated) slime mold that grows in forests, and was a staple of lab research, until white mice and Hela cells edged it out.

Now, it's back in focus, being able to solve mazes (every single time) and even the travelling salesman algorithm.

Watch this short video of how it maps the Tokyo Subway network (going after its favourite - oats).

So, even a blob can be smart. Take that, foolish humans!

Article: This Weirdly Smart, Creeping Slime Is Redefining How We Understand Intelligence from sciencealert.com

2022-10-07

The supervillain of dental caries

Bacteria and fungi combine to form a superorganism with superpowers that help it to eat up tooth enamel in kids.

Studying extracts from the mouths of kids with severe dental caries, a startled researcher found that, while either of the two was capable of causing only mild cavities and could be beaten relatively easily by brushing or anti-microbials, the superorganism was a different thing altogether.

2022-10-07

How spores decide to resurrect dead bacteria

Spores are dead. Like, dead dead. But when you put them in nutrients, the bacteria leap back to life and proliferate again.

But... how? There isn't any energy left in them. Or is there? Seems like they use a few stored potassium ions. That's all?? A few??