An international network of/for intelligent organisms
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ian
- Birmingham
- United Kingdom
- Blog Posts (11)
- Discussions (129)
- Events
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- Photos (32)
- Photo Albums (1)
- Videos (8)
ian's Discussions
Will physarum consume human blood - a preliminary study
Started Apr 2 0 Replies 1 Like
Pursuing my quest to create the Lex Luthor of the myxomycetes, I’ve been having a play.200mg rolled oats were mixed with 100mg fresh human blood from a health 46 year old male and air dried for two…Continue
Big Bang Fair 2018 - Amazing Mazie on tour
Started Mar 29 0 Replies 1 Like
It took three months of…Continue
So how do we use slime for evil instead of good?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Patrick Barry Mar 9. 2 Replies 0 Likes
We're all aware of how great slime moulds are and how they inspire artists, scientists and nutters to perform great deeds.But we're neglecting the darker side of life, how might an evil genius make…Continue
What the???? Interloper?
Started this discussion. Last reply by ian Apr 21, 2017. 1 Reply 0 Likes
I was watching The…Continue
ian's Page
Latest Activity
ian commented on mint taste slime mould's blog post HELP ME"If you're getting spores then you're definitely exposing them to too much light. Spores will germinate after they've been dry for several weeks but they form microscopic amoebae so you won't see anything - plasmodia take…"
ian posted a discussionWill physarum consume human blood - a preliminary study
Pursuing my quest to create the Lex Luthor of the myxomycetes, I’ve been having a play.200mg rolled oats were mixed with 100mg fresh human blood from a health 46 year old male and air dried for two days, these will henceforth be referred to as the bloody oats.Fresh physarum strain ‘Mazie’ was raised from sclerotia for three days on filter paper and fed dampened uncooked rolled oats.Test strips – 5x2cm strips of chromatography paper ( basically white blotting paper ), stacked three high for…See More
ian commented on Nicolas's blog post Help Culturing Physarum Polycephalum Directly onto 3D Printed Surfaces"I apply dry rolled oats straight out of the bag (not even organic) and add water, on a flake by flake basis a couple of drops per oat. In bulk I don't normally bother weighing anything, I've been…"
ian commented on Nicolas's blog post Help Culturing Physarum Polycephalum Directly onto 3D Printed Surfaces"Hi
There's no need for sterility with physarum - the hepa and substrate sterilisation are unnecessary. I've used pla printed mazes before, slime will crawl on it but seems to quickly abandon it when something with a…"
ian left a comment for vina"Spamming a member of admin - not a great move. I'll send Mazie after you..."
ian posted a discussionBig Bang Fair 2018 - Amazing Mazie on tour
It took three months of preparation but we did it - physarum at the biggest science fair in the country - the Big Bang fair aimed at children from 8 - 17 years old.Twenty thousand visitors a day over four days at the NEC.…See More
ian commented on Dominique Baron-Bonarjee's blog post Slime mould and body intelligence"It's not a slime mould but in the Japanese theme, Koji Kin is interesting to work with - it generates a shocking amount of heat when it gets going, people find it hard to believe that it's not being externally warmed."
ian replied to Lynn Ricks's discussion Is this a slime mold?"Hi
It's really hard to tell from the pics but if you found it on wet grass it could be some sort of slime mould - there are a few that live on grass. It might get a bit more active if you put in the dark for a day or so"
ian replied to Patrick Barry's discussion Big Bang Fair 2018"I'll be tied to the Nec but if you're going by International I'm up for coffees and natters. Pms from slimoco.ning.com should go straight to my phone (yes I know that's a bit odd)"
ian replied to Sarah's discussion Hi/Surge In New Membership"To breed - get spores, this just means leaving a slime in the light for a few days. The spores have to dry for a few weeks, then when you add water they hatch into amoebae. I feed mine by just putting an oat in the water - it feeds bacteria that…"
ian replied to Sarah's discussion Hi/Surge In New Membership"I make mazes whenever I've got a session to run - and a few maps. For schools seasons I give the pupils a choice of mazes or food choice plates to take home. Mazie's a strain I bred up myself to avoid any issues with…"
Profile Information
- Name
- hardboiledparrot
- Interest in slime moulds
- I'm a professional microscopist and amateur time lapse filmer. I'm looking forward to combining both disciplines with these fascinating organisms
- Academic Institution (if applicable)
- warwick
ian's Photos
ian's Videos
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When Worlds Collide
Added by ian 0 Comments 0 Likes
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The Slime is Coming
Added by ian 0 Comments 0 Likes
Comment Wall (5 comments)
- At 21:03 on January 16, 2018, Kendra Fanconi said…
Oh that would be amazing. I was looking at ordering it from the US. Is there any issue with getting it through customs?
- At 16:05 on October 27, 2015,
Marijn Roelvink said… - We received the Physarum today, thanks a lot!
- At 12:19 on October 14, 2015, Marijn Roelvink said…
- Hi Ian, thank you for wanting to send the Physarum, I was just wondering if you could tell me when they will arrive, it'll help a lot with our planning :)
- At 10:37 on February 10, 2015, enrico viola said…
- I received my samples today: thanks a lot!
- At 8:10 on February 3, 2015, enrico viola said…
Sent you a pm with my address; thanks again!
Ian's Blog
Raising from Spores - Zero Tech Method
Posted on April 11, 2017 at 13:30 0 Comments 1 Like
I've been looking for a way to rear physarum from spores without resorting to bacterial lawns and needing autoclaves etc.
I've only done a couple of trials but this method seems to work ok, it does require a bit of patience.
I used petri dishes and filter paper but any container and a bit of tissue should work.
The idea is to let the food go off producing bacteria for the amoebal phase to feed off then slowly dry them out so they get persuaded to form…
Continue Big bang, big disappointment :)
Posted on March 16, 2016 at 17:04 0 Comments 1 Like
Four weeks of crazy work, turning the spare room into a culture lab and time lapse studio I made enough culture for two thousand people and I should be there with my friends and colleagues on the stand inspiring the next generation of scientists, slime fans and eccentrics.
Unfortunately I'm stuck on a hospital ward with fifty stitches in my neck waiting until I'm allowed home. So it goes I suppose but damn I was looking forward to the Big Bang Fair, I couldn't even bring a slime…
Continue Plotting and planning....
Posted on June 2, 2015 at 11:31 0 Comments 1 Like
Getting involved with several schools in my area running STEM club activities - I'm trying to design a six week course on our dear sticky friend that'll be adaptable to ages 12-17. Looks like it'll be fun ( and a lot of work ). My own cultures have been dormant for a while aside from raising the odd batch but I should start playing again soon.
Raising slime again..
Posted on May 18, 2015 at 14:17 0 Comments 1 Like
Blimey it's been a while, we've got the finals lab projects for the students at work on at the moment so I'm not getting time to play. I've got a session with 95 school kids booked in in June so I'm raising as much slime as I can cope with in preparation for that.
I'm planning on getting them to make Plasticine mazes in petri dishes for their cultures so they've something to take home.
I've also got these intriguing mycena cholorophos spores ( a glowing mushroom ),…
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