Chapter 1: Understanding Slime Mold

Recently, I penned an article about this intriguing organism in Illumination on Medium, titled "The First of Them, Is It the Last of Us? Slime Mold."

The slime mold isn't categorized as either a plant or an animal; instead, it falls under the Protist classification due to its unique characteristics. Today, I captured its movement on video.

After my initial piece, the slime mold vanished from my Aerobin composter. Was it gone for good, or did it simply retreat? I couldn't ascertain the reason; one day it was present, and the next it had disappeared.

The conditions within the Aerobin are ever-changing. Ideally, it resembles a chaotic environment. As organic materials break down, they generate heat, which is retained by the insulated structure of the Aerobin, accelerating the composting process. At times, when I lift the lid, the warmth radiating from within feels like opening an oven—indicative of a healthy composting environment.

However, managing compost in the Aerobin can be likened to tending to a fire. You start with kindling, ignite a flame, and gradually add small amounts of fuel, being cautious not to extinguish the fire. Admittedly, that analogy may not be perfect, but it illustrates my point: sometimes, the activity in my composter diminishes. When I open it, I’m often greeted by a swarm of fruit flies hovering over a cooler mass of slugs, millipedes, and worms.

If I were an exemplary Aerobin user, I would adhere to the recommended proportions of paper, yard waste, and green kitchen scraps. Instead, I toss in garden refuse whenever I have it. When my shredder is full of paper and cardboard, it also makes its way into the Aerobin. Each morning, I empty our kitchen scraps and coffee grounds into the bin without mixing; I simply deposit whatever is compostable.

Despite this unrefined approach, it somehow works. Even with a bustling congregation of critters on top, I know that decomposition is occurring. Each time I lift the lid, I observe a sequence of biological succession, showcasing the changes in species over time that contribute to the ecological community within the bin. For instance, I initially noticed fruit flies, only to find expansive webs spun by wolf spiders the following week.

Recently, I harvested the snow peas from my garden, which had grown old and were overshadowing my tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. A significant amount of this waste found its way into the Aerobin.

A few days afterward, I spotted my familiar companion, the slime mold, atop the compost pile:

That evening, I prepared to place my iPhone 13 in the Aerobin the following day, attached to a red light I utilize for stargazing. I aimed to create a stop-motion video showcasing the slime mold’s behavior in dim light.

However, the slime mold had other plans.

The next morning, I discovered that the slime had vacated the bin under the overcast, damp conditions.

I set up my phone to record as the sun began to peek through the clouds, anticipating that the slime mold would avoid the light. The resulting stop-motion video, lasting just 21 seconds, encapsulates an hour in the life of the slime mold. It’s important to note that there was no wind; all movements were solely due to the slime mold itself.

Unfortunately, I had to run some errands and needed my phone. Upon my return, I found the slime mold had disappeared.

Was the slime mold simply relocated, or had it perished? Upon checking the Aerobin, I could no longer see it. Had it sunk into the warm depths of the compost?

I hope to see it again, as I am eager to capture a video of its movements inside the Aerobin. There's so much yet to explore.

Chapter 2: More on Slime Mold

For those interested in deepening their understanding of slime mold, here are two insightful videos:

The first video, titled "Amazing SLIME MOLD invading my HUGE ANTVIVARIUM!" offers a captivating glimpse into the world of slime molds and their behaviors.

The second video, "Lens of Time: Slime Lapse | bioGraphic," takes a closer look at the fascinating life cycle and movement of slime molds.