JUPITER  RESEARCH  FOUNDATION

Electrobiology

Jupiter Research Foundations's electrobiology lab was primarily engaged in processing electrical signals from plants, fungi, and mold, and analyzing those signals for evidence of communication amongst the organisms.

The organisms were cultured in Petri dishes with embedded electronic probes connected to an Electroencephalograph (EEG). The signals were then digitized, post-processed, and analyzed using traditional statistical methodology. This was a highly interesting but complex research project with an un-schedulable outcome.

Slime Mold making contact with probes

Slime Mold making contact with probes

Slime mold spores

Slime mold spores

One of our studies was conducted on Phycomyces blakesleeanus, which has been known for over one hundred years to have interesting growth patterns, particularly those in response to blue light. The fundamental driving forces behind some of these responses continue to elude researchers. Nonetheless, the behaviors are fascinating and are best observed casually with time-lapse photography.

In the video, one can view an upward spiraling growth of the sporangiophores away from gravity, and in the latter part of the sequence, a leftward growth towards a white/blue light.

Phycomyces blakesleeanus growing on potato dextrose agar. Note the yellow pigment (carotene) and spiraling growth of sporangiophores (fruiting bodies of the fungus).