Slime Molds Aggregate -- and Leave 'Loners' Behind (VIDEO)
Caption
When threatened with starvation, slime molds aggregate into towers topped with slimy spheres that stick to passing insects, which carry the spores out into the world. But new research shows that up to a third of slime mold amobae are 'loners' that hang back from assembling into one of these swaying towers. Those loners serve an ecological purpose, says a team of Princeton scientists led by Corina Tarnita: when most of a community is rushing in one direction, the few who hang back may protect the whole population. In this video, the slime molds interact and then aggregate off to the left (wait for it!), leaving the loners behind.
Credit
Courtesy of the Tarnita Lab, Princeton University
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