Engineers 'can learn from slime'

[hunter]

From the BBC and the journal Science:

Engineers 'can learn from slime'

The way fungus-like slime moulds grow could help engineers design wireless communication networks.

Scientists drew this conclusion after observing a slime mould as it grew into a network that was almost identical to the Tokyo rail system.

The scientists describe their ideas for "biologically inspired networks" in the journal Science.

They have incorporated the slime mould's efficient strategy into a mathematical formula.

This "slime formula" could help engineers develop better, more efficient designs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8473316.stm

Okay, using a mathematical model of slime is nifty, but if I was designing a network I think it would be a lot more fun to grow actual slime mold on a petri dish.

"And the slime says we should lay out the network like this..."

[redqueen]

1. I thought this would be about

this

It makes perfect sense really.

[Orsino]

2. I figured Lieberman was sponsoring a new telecom bill. n/t