Is slime mold cultivation a new trend? What exactly is this new favorite among young people? !

When you think of pets, what comes to mind? Cats? Dogs? Hamsters? Lizards...

In recent years, the pet world has continued to welcome new members, from the creative trend of "cardboard box dogs" to the alternative choices of "pet stones" and "mango cores", all of which demonstrate the younger generation's pursuit of individuality and innovation.

Recently, a creature called "slime mold" has quietly become popular and has become a new favorite on the pet list of young people.

Image source: Xiaohongshu @charlotteeee

Slime molds: mysterious inhabitants of nature

Slime mold, this name sounds strange and mysterious. It is neither a fungus nor a bacterium, but a primitive eukaryotic organism between animals and plants. It belongs to the fungal kingdom and is on par with fungi. It is called slime mold or naked fungus .

Image source: Weibo blogger @拖尾菌

The life cycle of slime molds is divided into two stages: the nutritional stage and the reproductive stage . In the nutritional stage , slime molds mainly exist in the form of mycelium, hiding in a dark and humid environment, silently absorbing nutrients from the surrounding environment. Entering the reproductive stage , they will miraculously appear in a place with good light and slightly dry. At this time, the slime mold will form a fruiting body and release spores to reproduce. It is worth noting that this stage is also the end of the slime mold's life cycle. The mother body will gradually die, and the hope of life will be placed on these tiny spores.

The uniqueness of slime mold lies in its lifestyle that is between plants and animals. It can both photosynthesize (some species rely on hosts) and move like animals to "forage". This cross-kingdom characteristic gives it a unique position in biological taxonomy.

Image source: Reference [1]

The living habits and survival "wisdom" of slime molds

The reason why slime molds can attract the attention of young people is largely due to their amazing survival strategy - self-navigation ability . Slime molds optimize the shortest path to the target food by sensing factors such as humidity, light and food sources in the environment. Slime molds have no nervous system and no brain, but they have unimaginable "intelligence". Scientists once placed two pieces of food in a simple maze full of Physarum polycephalum. Soon the slime mold pounced on the food, and there was a shortest route connecting the two pieces of food.

Image source: Screenshot of CCTV Documentary Channel's "Magical Slime Mold" video

This ability has long been noticed by scientists. Japanese scientists once published a study in which slime mold drew a route map of the Tokyo railway system in a petri dish.

Some "breeders" will dye it to form beautiful patterns. ↓↓↓

Image source: Screenshot of CCTV Documentary Channel's "Magical Slime Mold" video

This behavior may seem intelligent, but it is actually an efficient survival mechanism formed by slime molds in the long-term evolution process, which helps them quickly obtain resources in a complex natural environment, rather than a true "high IQ" performance. In addition, slime molds also show strong adaptability and survival resilience. They can hibernate in extreme conditions and wait for the right time to become active again. This vitality amazes many breeders.

The unique charm of slime molds as pets

Compared to pets, slime molds are easy to maintain and do not require complicated daily care. They are suitable for busy office workers. They only need to be fed with oats, rice grains, oyster mushrooms, eggplants, carrots, various fruits, etc., which are all foods that can be found everywhere. On the other hand, slime molds have no excrement and no strong odor, but they can provide people with ornamental and companionship value.

At the same time, observing the growth process of slime mold is like taking an adventure in the microscopic world, and every discovery is exciting. More importantly, the existence of slime mold reminds us that every life in nature is worthy of respect and exploration, and they show the miracle of life in their own way.

Image source: Xiaohongshu @charlotteeee

In summary, the rise of slime molds as a trendy pet for young people not only reflects the young generation's pursuit of individuality and innovative lifestyles, but also reflects human curiosity and spirit of exploration of the unknown areas of nature. With its unique biological characteristics, survival wisdom, and the novel experience it brings as a pet, slime molds are gradually becoming a bridge connecting people and nature, science and life. In this process, we have learned more about life and gained the joy of living in harmony with nature.

Kind tips

When considering adding slime molds as observation objects, please choose carefully and ensure that they are properly processed and suitable for viewing through formal channels. It is recommended that minors conduct relevant exploration activities under the careful guidance and full accompaniment of their parents or teachers . In addition, regarding the breeding of "exotic pets", we advocate a cautious attitude to avoid carrying unknown biological factors that pose a potential impact on human health.

References:

[1]Reid, Chris R., et al. "Slime mold uses an externalized spatial “memory” to navigate in complex environments." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences109.43 (2012): 17490-17494.

[2] What kind of pet should a person with poor sense of direction keep? A slime mold that can “find its way” https://m.jiemian.com/article/3617479.html