THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE BRAINLESS • 7
Natalia Valadzko
What is this branching yellowish ooze growing over a rotting stump in your local forest? Intertwined plant veins? A ball of mucus? A fungus? In fact, it might be the slime mould Physarum polycephalum, which was nicknamed Le Blob. It has no brain or a nervous system, but it can combine infinitely with other cells, consequently forming a superorganism. Surprisingly enough, it has recently challenged the anthropocentric claim on intelligence and creativity. Turns out Le Blob is able to break out of Petri dishes, solve mazes, choose the fastest route to the food source, and even anticipate future events. But… such behaviour requires intelligence! Doesn’t it? To answer if Le Blob is an astute being or not, we have to take a closer look at intelligence. And here is where things get complicated.
