The most efficient way? Ask the mold to ask

2010/04/08 Lakar Iraizoz, Oihane - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Garraioak
• Biokimika
• Botanika

Placing the favorite dishes of Physarum plycephalum mold imitating the map of Japan, and placing mold in the place corresponding to Tokyo, researchers at the University of Oxford have discovered that mold acquires a similar form to the communications network between Tokyo and the most important towns and cities of its environment as it grows. Therefore, it could be possible to design roads or other mould-based transport networks.

The explanation of all this is the way of eating the viscous liqueur Physarum plycephalum. Mold, when found with food, ramifies on edible particles. Instead, when it comes to branching more, it simplifies the created network, leaving only the branches that receive more nutrients.

During the experiment of the Japanese map, the researchers turned the main cities into great sources of nutrients (with popcorn in the places corresponding to the cities) and observed mold growth for 26 hours. Well, they found that the aspect of the network created by the mold resembles the existing railway network in the area of Tokyo.

Photo: Science/AAAS