Many experiments have proved that Polycephalum has the ability of learning and memory. There are also some special ways between them to communicate. These make me impressed with this little wonderful creature. Is it possible to come up with an experiment that allows these little creatures to perform their talents?
Between Physarum and the food, scientists built a bridge containing some salt which Physarum doesn't like. But in order to get food, the slime crossed the salt bridge. After that, the scientist put the slime into hibernation. After resuscitation, it can still cross over the salt bridge, and the speed is faster than the last time. So scientists think they have learning and memory functions.
My idea
Based on the above experiment, I came up with an idea to observe these little creatures.
When I was raising Physarum Polycephalum, I found that they didn't like coffee. What if I add coffee to their growth medium, will they adapt to such an environment?
I decided to split the slime into two parts. One is fed with a normal 2% agar medium. In the other one's medium, I will replace the water with an appropriate amount of coffee. In the beginning, the amount of coffee is small, allowing slimes to grow on it. After that, the amount of coffee will be increased after every time the slime adapts to the environment of the medium. Then let the slime that can grow on the coffee medium and the slime that have not lived on the coffee medium live together on the ordinary agar medium for a period of time. Finally, the slimes who have lived together for a period of time are raised in a coffee medium to observe whether they can accept the coffee environment.
02.06.2021 The project shows different environments that the Physarum might grow in and is taking a closer look at media that the Physarum consumes, e.g. mushrooms. A timelapse will make it possible to see the Physarum growing and consuming different media. What does the Physarum consme quickly? In which environment will it grow the most? Can Physarum from different environment, fed with different media be brought together again?
Process
My Physarum Polycephalum Keeping Diary
(Continually updated)
Reference：
-TED Talk_ Heather Barnett: Was wir Menschen von halbintelligentem Schleim lernen können
-The Physarum Experiments - Heather Barnett: Short compilation of studies: Study No. 022: Starvation Fireworks / Study No. 019: The Maze (homage to a classic experiment) / Study No. 026: Intraspecies Fusion