We are traveling in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Forest ecologist Steve Stephenson bends over a decaying stump and parts a curtain of moss so I can see a tiny stand of what looks like ...

Dictyostelium discoideum is a widely studied social amoeba that exhibits a remarkable transition from solitary life to a coordinated multicellular existence. Under conditions of nutrient deprivation, ...

Slime molds are yellow, oozing, amoeba-like organisms often found on decaying logs and in moist areas. They have no neurons ...

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are worm-like parasites of the genus Meloidogyne that are found in many parts of the world. They attack the roots of plants, causing them to wilt and eventually die. It is ...

Humans have the largest brains of any creature on the Earth, so we are always using our brains and thinking about solutions to problems. Scientists have wondered how organisms that lack a brain can ...

The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is a soil microbe that produces diverse natural products with potential antibiotic activity. Previously, three chlorinated compounds had been detected ...

Recent studies have increasingly challenged the traditional view that cognitive processes are exclusively the domain of organisms with nervous systems. Research into slime molds and other unicellular ...

Does these look like lichens to you? According to Gregory Retallack, they should. If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a ...