The Fungus That Detects Everything

Phycomyces blakesleeanus is a mold that acts like a living sensor. It can perceive and react to light, gravity, wind, and even the presence of nearby solid objects.

This incredible fungus uses its stalks to constantly navigate its environment with pinpoint accuracy. It relies on a sophisticated internal network of at least ten different genes to process these external signals. Scientists study its unique sensory abilities to better understand how simple organisms detect the world around them. It is essentially a biological machine programmed to respond to every breeze and shadow it encounters.