Friday, November 04, 2005

Slime Molds

If you have never heard of slime molds be prepared for a shock.  Scientist are not quite sure how to classify these things, some put them in with fungi and others classify them a protists.  The really interesting thing about them is that although they function autonomously during certain times, they can "team-up" and form giant blobs that can move like cat sized amoebas.  Pretty cool huh?  For example if a group of them are lining a pipe and conditions aren't good they could team up to form a blob and climb up into your sink.  People have found massive pulsating blobs in their backyard thinking they have discovered an alien or a new species only to be informed it's just slime mold.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think there is a slime mold that's the largest single living thing on Earth, something like 400 acres big.

Anonymous said...

Despite what some may think what is stated is true... do a little searching and you will find even more amazing things to learn.