Postdoc Atsushi Tero of Hokkaido University and a team of Japanese and British researchers found that the mold Physarum polycephalum pursues the shortest, most efficient path to food. They dotted a damp map of Tokyo and environs with oat flakes on nearby cities. Surprisingly, when they unleashed the mold, it branched out to the food in a way that closely resembled Tokyo's rail system. The mold even made multiple connections in case one broke down. An article on the research (abstract) was published today in Science.
This slime mold carefully sends out a network of protoplasm to find food, balancing the energy required with resiliency and efficiency. TreeHugger's Stephen Messenger writes that the scientists are developing mathematical models that simulate the mold's abilities. Beyond transit, the research also has implications for sensor arrays and wireless networks. An article in the Economist suggests that rules based on the mold's behavior could make it easier for a bunch of robots to stay organized in a dangerous environment without human intervention.
Back in the realm of transportation, New York City is currently facing draconian cuts in Subway service, including the W train that helps me get home faster. It doesn't seem like a stretch to say that slime mold is proving to be far more efficient than the MTA.
Photo: Mere mold or an ingenious network designer? Credit: University of Wisconsin, Madison Department of Botany.
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