How slime mold helped scientists map out the cosmic web

Astronomers have struggled to visualize the giant tendrils of matter that connect galaxies

slime mold

The intricate patterns of this yellow slime mold can help tease out the structure of the vast strings of matter that connect galaxies in the universe’s cosmic web.

Frankenstoen (CC BY 2.5)

Creeping tendrils of slime seem to mirror the structure of the universe’s enormous filaments.