Nature IS Technology
โ€“ a Living Future Awaits

What if technology could grow, adapt, and heal like a living organism? Using slime molds as a bridge between the organic and the digital, I dive into the world of biocomputersโ€”systems that evolve and regenerate as nature intended. These short videos show how living organisms can power devices, interact with us in real time, and guide the future of sustainable, adaptive technology. Itโ€™s a glimpse into a world where biology and innovation are no longer separate. Here, nature isnโ€™t just the inspiration for technologyโ€”it is technology.

Merging Biology with Technology

In the quiet stillness of a lab, a new form of technology is emergingโ€”one that grows, adapts, and evolves just like the living organisms it mimics. This is no ordinary machine; it is a biocomputer, powered not by cold circuits, but by life itself. Nature, as always, finds a way.

Organic Data Flows

Like the roots of a tree, searching for water deep within the soil, these slime mold tendrils spread out, carrying information. This data, however, does not follow rigid paths. It flows organically, constantly seeking the most efficient route, much like nature itself in its endless pursuit of harmony.

Close-up of a circuit board with colorful components, including yellow spherical balls and green pins, with a digital effect showing flowing lines and data streams.
Digital rendering of a neural network with glowing green and yellow connections and nodes, representing artificial intelligence or neural activity.

"The slime mold algorithm represents an exciting step towards a future where biological intelligence and computation merge, allowing us to model networks and solve complex problems in ways that traditional algorithms cannot."


โ€” Dr. Atsushi Tero, Research Scientist, Hokkaido University

Designing with Life โ€“ Aesthetic and Interface Design

Like the roots of a tree, searching for water deep within the soil, these slime mold tendrils spread out, carrying information. This data, however, does not follow rigid paths. It flows organically, constantly seeking the most efficient route, much like nature itself in its endless pursuit of harmony.

A decorative box with a colorful, abstract flower design on the lid, featuring yellow and purple petal-like structures surrounding a dark center.
A highly detailed, artistic close-up of a surreal creature combining elements of a ladybug and a butterfly with a textured black body, glossy black eyes, and delicate pink butterfly-like wings, set against a neutral background.

Living Computing Infrastructure

Just as a plant might repair itself after damage, so too does this living technology. Slime moldsโ€”simple yet remarkably intelligent organismsโ€”mend broken circuits, reconnect pathways, and optimize their surroundings. This is computing, not as a static tool, but as a living infrastructure, continuously adapting and improving over time.

A digital rendering of neural networks with glowing orange and green nodes interconnected by delicate lines on a tablet screen.

Bioelectric Power โ€“ Energy from Life

In nature, life finds energy in the most unexpected places. These slime molds, once thought to be primitive, produce bioelectricity. This energy, harvested from the very growth of the organism, powers the devices of the future. A quiet revolution, driven by life itself.

A digital illustration of a virus resembling the COVID-19 particle, with a yellow core and spike-like projections, superimposed on an app icon.

"Slime molds offer a glimpse into a world where computing is no longer confined to silicon chips but emerges organically from living systems, blurring the line between nature and technology."

โ€” Andrew Adamatzky, Professor of Unconventional Computing, University of the West of England

Organic User Interaction

Interaction with this living technology is unlike anything before it. With the wave of a hand, an artist can guide the growth of the slime mold, influencing its path. This interaction is not simply about controlโ€”it is a partnership, a symbiotic relationship between human and organism, where each gesture shapes the future of the technology.

A detailed close-up of a neural network model with illuminated, mushroom-shaped synapses on a textured base, connected to wires.

"Slime mold is like the ultimate organic algorithm, weaving patterns that seem chaotic but reveal a hidden harmony. Itโ€™s a reminder that the future of art and technology could lie in something as ancient as nature itself."


โ€” Brian Eno, Musician and Visual Artist

Real-World Applications

In the wild, nothing is wasted. Everything returns to the cycle of life. Now, our technology follows that same principle. From medical devices that adapt to the bodyโ€™s needs, to biodegradable computers that decompose back into the earth, these living systems are designed not only to function but to regenerate and renew, just as nature intended.

Close-up digital illustration of a biological or technological experiment with spheres, thin hair-like structures, and a textured surface on a white rectangular device, illuminated by multicolored lights.
Close-up of a black device with colorful textured surfaces, orange and green spheres, and a central cluster of tiny green beads, resembling a sci-fi or artistic digital art.
A microscopic digital rendering of a silicon chip with green and black colors, surrounded by metal-like structures and droplets, representing advanced technology or digital circuitry.

Nature IS Technology

Natureโ€™s intelligence has been billions of years in the making. And now, we are beginning to understand that it holds the key to the future of technology. In this world, where biology and innovation are intertwined, the boundaries between the organic and the mechanical have dissolved. Technology is no longer separate from life. It is life.

Slime Mold Algorythm

This code implements a slime mold simulation in Processing, a flexible and open-source sketchbook designed for creative coding. The sketch simulates the pathfinding behavior of slime molds using thousands of individual agents that leave behind pheromone trails as they navigate a grid. These agents deposit and follow pheromones, mimicking the way slime molds move towards food sources in nature. The evaporation and diffusion of the pheromones allow for dynamic trail formation, creating organic, evolving patterns on the canvas.

Processingโ€™s sketchbook format is particularly suited for visualizing algorithms like this because it allows for rapid experimentation and immediate visual feedback. The simulation uses a color scheme based on green-to-yellow hues to represent varying pheromone intensities, making it easier to observe the agents' interactions with their environment. ControlP5 sliders provide an interactive way to tweak key parameters such as evaporation and diffusion rates, giving users control over the simulationโ€™s organic growth patterns in real-time.