Named after the organism that solves mazes without a map.

Physarum polycephalum is a single-celled slime mold with no brain and no plan. Put it at the entrance of a maze with food at the exit, and it spreads into every corridor, withdraws from the dead ends, and leaves behind the shortest path.

Researchers have watched it rebuild efficient transport networks from scratch. We think that’s the right way to approach hard problems: explore widely, measure honestly, and commit to what works.