Saturday, May 17, 2025

After Calvino Cosmic Comics

 


I only got but one cell. They call me unicellular. I am a “stentor” – I got one cell but many trumpet like appendages. And a dashing ropelike cilia edging. I vacuum what comes my way. Swimming bacteria: My Favorite Prey, Momma.

All my appendages do me nada, unless I can form a family dinner. Together, my stentor crew, are better fed. We can make the water flow more quickly. More quick water, more bacteria prey. I can do this without a neuron or a brain. It’s like watching TV.

Together we stentors form a higher order structure, much like the US Congress except that we accomplish more.

You will find us near the surface of ponds, or if fate is foul, in petri dishes. Our swirling trumpets and lapping mouths gain the attention of biophysicists at Emory University in Atlanta. My Favorite Song: Hang on Slurpy.

From: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/science/stentors-cells-evolution-physics.html?


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