• Strange and fascinating, the blob is a single-celled organism capable of learning, even without a brain.

  • Today, 4,500 schools are raising blobs and comparing them to the blob present in the ISS, to see the impact of weightlessness.

  • The CNRS is launching a new experiment: “Behind the blob, research” by offering 10,000 amateur scientists the opportunity to also build a blob and work on the impact of climate change.

He has no brain, but memory and a little strategic side.

He is the blob, a yellow unicellular being, with a slimy appearance, who loves the undergrowth.

And recently, he has become acclimatized to space since a specimen has the honor of living with Thomas Pesquet and his acolytes of the International Space Station.

A way to know if he behaves the same way, when he is 400 km above our heads, in zero gravity, as when he crawls on the floor of the cows.

And to carry out this experiment on Earth, students from 4,500 schools are called upon to raise their own blob, also known by its scientific name, Physarum polycephalum.

Wanted: 10,000 breeders

But, as the blob, however strange it may be, fascinates thanks to its learning faculties despite its unique cell, the CNRS has decided to use its capital of sympathy for scientific purposes.

This Wednesday, he therefore launched an appeal to 10,000 potential blob breeders to get to know the effects of climate change on this organism which is not a fan of the heat.

# Press release 🗞️ |

The @CNRS launches the participatory science project "Behind the blob, the research" open to 10,000 scientific apprentices.

Led by @Docteur_Drey, it will study the effects of climate change on the #blob.



➡️ https://t.co/mrk49R4DJZ#BlobCNRS pic.twitter.com/Z3t5gowhOf

- CNRS 🌍 (@CNRS) October 20, 2021

"Behind the blob, the research", will therefore offer these amateur scientists to take care of the one who is neither fungus, neither plant, nor animal.

Under the leadership of Audrey Dussutour, a Toulouse researcher and chief blob breeder, all volunteers over 8 years old will have to handle their Physarum polycephalum and one of its cousins ​​on a daily basis, at a fixed schedule, for at least five days, Badhamia utricularis.

It will also be necessary to feed and pamper them.

Photo and UV for the blob

They will also have to take a picture of them, just to see if they like their environment.

If they withstand the temperature variations that are imposed on them thanks to a heating bulb installed next to the Petri dish, the house of the blob.

To participate in this experiment, conducted from March to May, those interested must register before November 12 and say if they will be able to board blob and his cous' a week, or more.

Those who want to embark on the adventure will have to equip themselves at their expense, for less than 40 euros.

No need to scan the undergrowth, the blobs will be provided.

The job will not stop with simple statements.

New blob breeders will be able to get their hands on a pen to write the post on this participatory experience.

Science

Space: Here is what Thomas Pesquet will spend his days in orbit

Science

The blob, this mystery of nature, a newcomer to the Vincennes zoo

  • Climate change

  • Research

  • Toulouse

  • Unusual

  • study

  • Science