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SUMMARY:Lesson from smart slime: How active flow networks process informat
 ion for complex behaviour - Karen  Alim (Technische Universität München)
DTSTART:20230703T150000Z
DTEND:20230703T153000Z
UID:TALK201097@talks.cam.ac.uk
DESCRIPTION:Propagating\, storing and processing information is key to tak
 e smart decisions &ndash\; for organisms as well as for autonomous devices
 . In search for the minimal units that allow for complex behaviour the sli
 me mould Physarum polycephalum stands out by solving complex optimization 
 problems despite its simple make-up. Physarum&rsquo\;s body is an interlac
 ed network of fluid-filled tubes lacking any nervous system\, in fact bein
 g a single gigantic cell. Yet\, Physarum finds the shortest path through a
  maze. We unravel that Physarum&rsquo\;s complex behaviour emerges from th
 e physics of active flows shuffling through its tubular networks. Flows tr
 ansport information\, information that is stored in the architecture of th
 e network. Thus\, tubular adaptation drives processing of information into
  complex behaviour. Taking inspiration from the mechanisms in Physarum we 
 outline how to embed complex behaviour in active microfluidic devices and 
 how to program human vasculature.\n&nbsp\;
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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