True Facts: The Smartest Slime

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patreon: / truefacts
Patreon patron Peggy Casey came up with the scarecrow joke!!!
Bea Leiderman- / bealeiderman
Dr Simon Garnier, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Dr Audrey Dussutour, CNRS - Universite Paul Sabatier
Dr Bernard Jenni
Dr Edvin Johannesen, Natural History Museum Oslo
Benedikt Pleyer: / nomadicnostoc
Dr Kathie Hodge, Cornell University
Kent Loeffler, Cornell University
Sarah Lloyd, National Herbarium of Victoria (MEL)
/ sarah.lloyd.tasmania
Alison Pollack
/ marin_mushrooms
Dr Fred Spiegel, University of Arkansas
Dr Steven L. Stephenson, University of Arkansas
Cornell Center for Fungal Biology
Swarm Lab, New Jersey Institute of Technology
www.theswarmlab.com/
Nanolive.ch
/ nanolivechlookinginsid...
Anna Grinčuka
/ @annagrincuka3277
TIB - www.tib.eu/en/
Adamatzky, Andrew et al. (2012). Are motorways rational from slime mould's point of view?. International Journal of Parallel, Emergent and Distributed Systems - IJPEDS. 28. 10.1080/17445760.2012.685884.
Boisseau, R. P., Vogel, D., & Dussutour, A. (2016). Habituation in non-neural organisms: evidence from slime moulds. Proceedings. Biological sciences, 283(1829), 20160446. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.0446
Boussard, A. et al. (2019). Memory inception and preservation in slime moulds: the quest for a common mechanism. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, 374(1774), 20180368.
Chen B,et al. Three-dimensional positioning and structure of chromosomes in a human prophase nucleus. Sci Adv. 2017 Jul 21;3(7):e1602231. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1602231. PMID: 28776025; PMCID: PMC5521992.
Dussutour, A. et al. (2010). Amoeboid organism solves complex nutritional challenges. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107(10), 4607-4611. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0912198107
Jabr, F. How brainless slime molds redefine intelligence. Nature (2012). doi.org/10.1038/nature.2012.1...
Harold W. Keller, et al., Chapter 1 - The Myxomycetes: Introduction, Basic Biology, Life Cycles, Genetics, and Reproduction, Myxomycetes, Academic Press, 2017, Pages 1-40, ISBN 9780128050897, doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805...
Kramar M, Alim K. Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Mar 9;118(10):e2007815118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2007815118. PMID: 33619174; PMCID: PMC7958412.
Mitsch, J. (Director) 2021. The Blob: A Genius Without a Brain.
Nakagaki, T., Yamada, H. & Tóth, Á. Maze-solving by an amoeboid organism. Nature 407, 470 (2000). doi.org/10.1038/35035159
Oettmeier C, Döbereiner H-G (2019) A lumped parameter model of endoplasm flow in Physarum polycephalum... PLoS ONE 14(4): e0215622. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone....
Orvieto, R et al. Do human embryos have the ability of self-correction? Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2020 Oct 6;18(1):98. doi: 10.1186/s12958-020-00650-8. PMID: 33023576; PMCID: PMC7539487.
Ray, Subash et al.. (2019). Information Transfer During Food Choice in the Slime Mold Physarum polycephalum. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 7. 10.3389/fevo.2019.00067.
Reid, Chris R. Tanya Latty, Collective behaviour and swarm intelligence in slime moulds, FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Volume 40, Issue 6, November 2016, Pages 798-806, doi.org/10.1093/femsre/fuw033
Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussutour, A., & Beekman, M. (2012). Slime mold uses an externalized spatial "memory" to navigate in complex environments. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 109(43), 17490-17494. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1215037109
Sperry, M. M., Murugan, N. J., & Levin, M. (2022). Studying Protista WBR and Repair Using Physarum polycephalum. Methods in molecular biology , 2450, 51-67. doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-21...
Tafakori, V. Slime molds as a valuable source of antimicrobial agents. AMB Expr 11, 92 (2021). doi.org/10.1186/s13568-021-01...
Tero, A., Takagi, S., Saigusa, T., Ito, K., Bebber, D. P., Fricker, M. D., Yumiki, K., Kobayashi, R., & Nakagaki, T. (2010). Rules for biologically inspired adaptive network design. Science (New York, N.Y.), 327(5964), 439-442. doi.org/10.1126/science.1177894
Vogel, D., & Dussutour, A. (2016). Direct transfer of learned behaviour via cell fusion in non-neural organisms. Proceedings. Biological sciences, 283(1845), 20162382. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2382
Zhu Liping, et al. 2018Remarkable problem-solving ability of unicellular amoeboid organism and its mechanismR. Soc. open sci.5180396180396. doi.org/10.1098/rsos.180396

[@zefrank]

Keep learning at brilliant.org/zefrank Get started for free, and hurry-the first 200 people get 20% off an annual premium subscription.

[@researcherchameleon4602]

In the wake of the success of the new “The Last of Us” show, can we get a video on Cordyceps? Pretty please, with a zombie fungus on top

[@Slumkat]

Where have you been. It’s been a while since your last video until now lol. I love your videos

[@tigerlily2941]

Always so happy to see your videos

[@werbnaright5012]

No Ze. Zero smartest slime is you. BRILLIANT

[@dragolance4394]

I bet that 20%off is only for the first payment though... 😓

[@johncao6516]

As a molecular biologist who worked with DNA for many years, can confirm the way ZeFrank read out the DNA sequence is exactly what we do in lab. All day. Everyday.

[@Catbooks]

Reading this makes me very happy I never aspired to be a molecular biologist. My condolences to you and your DNA-sequencing molecular biologist pals.

[@enjerth78]

So how many nipples do you have?

[@Eo_Tunun]

That's so gaga!

[@oftengruntled5432]

that's what the human genome project was, right? Finding a human with the patience to sound out all our genes?

[@trolly4233]

wizardry...

[@thaDjMauz]

It's impressive how it's 100% education and 100% comedy. They don't cut into eachother at all, perfect fusion cuisine of the two.

[@3Carbon6]

That’s the formula! The best teachers are ones that make learning fun. Our minds are fully focused on what’s in front of us, when it’s entertaining.

[@MiCKi914]

Just like slime molds!

[@chrishernandez7963]

It really just shows how well a person understands the material if they are able to explain it in different ways and make jokes out of it.

[@willyreeves319]

that's why i watch them twice

[@crushthatdwarf]

Also 100% gross and 100% beautiful. That's 400% Ze Frank!

[@AdamFunk]

"...but what's _a-maze-ing_ (kill me)" completely broke me down into fits of goofy laughter. Well, even more so than the constant stream of giggles already taking place.

[@meistereder9135]

Millennial r-word energy

[@anerrantecho]

Honestly I have the same reaction whenever I make a pun

[@Crimethoughtfull]

what was extra amazing about it is that if you're not listening carefully you could miss it entirely--he's usually a bit obvious in the puns, but this one he rushed through and dared anyone to notice!

[@themosaicshow]

7:15 btw

[@Neogentronyx]

3:40 "Like the scream of a night demon." Got me falling out of my chair LMAO 🤣!!!

[@ALaughingWolf2188]

ZeFrank’s way of describing things is better than any nature documentary I’ve seen

[@yurimalyk901]

It's even better than the way how my biology teacher explains it

[@MrJeffrey938]

100%

[@Iamlurking504]

The explain like I'm five method is insanely difficult, but insanely good

[@spddiesel]

It's like David Attenborogh had a babeh with Ron Burgundy.

[@michaelcole8999]

And by better we mean they are engaging. Now, you hear "engaging" like a lovely couple looking to wed, when in reality it's engaging like the band Killswitch Engage

[@KlaxontheImpailr]

“Butt food isn’t always plopped in front of you.” I swear, this joke never gets old. 😂

[@SuziQ.]

Tell that to my German Shepherd as she’s waiting for butt food to plop from my Labrador. An added “euw,” she’s a face kisser.

[@JamesDavy2009]

"And no, there's no such thing as a butt anteater."

[@janeeyre1990]

As a child, I misunderstood the words "but savages ..." from the Disney movie Pocahontas as "butt savages." I was around four or five and asked my mom, "Mom, what are butt savages?" She was very concerned.

[@TheQuietTyper]

@@janeeyre1990 sounds like a derogatory term for a gay man.

[@devonmmi]

oh THAT'S what the joke was, thank you

[@Soulful_01]

So I recently saw moving yellow slime mold during a walk in the woods. It was visually moving, so much so that I thought it might've been some sort of really weird caterpillar. Apparently the mold wasn't seen before in the "reserve" so I reported it to the people at the desk. Apparently it was non-toxic and not dangerous to the environment, but I was congratulated for finding it nonetheless.

[@themosaicshow]

new slime mold just dropped

[@Soulful_01]

@@themosaicshow Yeah, and apparently this new species has sentience

[@themosaicshow]

@@Soulful_01 it WHAT

[@nekomimicatears]

​@@Soulful_01keep it and name it Jim

[@Soulful_01]

@@nekomimicatears Good idea person from two months ago!

[@2006glg]

This is the first time ever I've been able to sit through nonstop images of amoeba because the desire to experience the content is greater than my squeamishness and disgust. Like, since a kid in school, I could not. Congrats, Ze Frank. Your comedy has cured a life long condition.

[@blucat4]

Don't worry, the slime-mould can give that back to you! 😄

[@sofiatravieso912]

I remember when I was studying slime molds and our professor told us of a case where an intern of hers accidentally left the lab window open during the weekend and the mold "ran away", so to speak. I had trouble believing the story at first, but the more I learn about them the more I am starting to believe...

[@saraloking5993]

It was probably still making its way down the outside wall...

[@Zahn-rad]

Sounds like the premise of a horror movie

[@DynamicSeq]

It's living in California and are having a 200$/day crack habit..

[@tomu2858]

oldest trick in the book: open the window but hide in a closet.

[@JadeDragon407]

Do we need to be concerned where this slimemold is today? I mean, it could be practicing law or sitting in high office somewhere by now.

[@casualbird7671]

7:14 "But what's amazingkillme is that the solution it settles on..." the way that line is so smoothly spoken is wonderful

[@nutmeggaming11261]

It was so smooth that I didn't notice it

[@atransdragonwithaflamethro7255]

I- how didn’t I notice that-

[@luisRG17]

I’m glad someone else caught that. I was like wait, did he 😆

[@youwannaknoweh]

Freaked me out a bit

[@Cat-tastrophee]

"aMAZEing" (kill me) 🤣

[@shoulderBirb]

so while i regret watching this while eating, this is by far one of the most fascinating subjects you've covered. more molds and fungi!!

[@blucat4]

Lol, I've been munching through pizza crackers and wine and I didn't even think of that! 😄

[@Saiavinn]

I'm going to choose to blame you specifically for the newest video, and the horror stories ZeFrank just told me. I hope you're eating while you watch it. >:( (I'm messing, but seriously parasitic fungi are cruel)

[@shoulderBirb]

@@Saiavinn yes gooood, GOOOOOD 😈 this message has been brought to you by the federation of slime molds and fungi

[@jahnellbroomfield7172]

Grow a stronger stomach

[@lunafyrsage]

Same.🥴

[@alisonmccallion2175]

In middle school I would watch zefrank videos and get excited to learn so much about animals, annoying my friends to death with fun facts. Now I’m getting a PhD in biomedical science, I thought I pretty much had the low-down on fungi (though it’s not what I study), and I am still in awe at how much I just learned and laughed from a zefrank video. Thank you! And sorry to my labmates who will learn about slime moulds against their will today.

[@transnightwalker7973]

I did science fair projects with slime molds back in the early 2000’s, including seeing if they could navigate mazes for food. Unfortunately, my ability to build slime mold proof mazes was not good enough and the dang things cheated and just grew over the walls to go straight over to the food. I love these bizarre and wonderful little things.

[@callmecalicoo]

That’s so cool, but how do you even slime mold proof the maze?

[@brycehickenbottom7686]

@@callmecalicoo Maybe it would be kind of like the "salt bridge" he was talking about, coat the walls in some kind of substance that they won't assimilate and force them to "walk" on the ground lol, idk just my thoughts

[@transnightwalker7973]

@@callmecalicoo I never figured that out but obviously others have based off footage in this video 🤣

[@callmecalicoo]

@@brycehickenbottom7686Oh, that makes a ton of sense, thank you!

[@kR-qj7rw]

Outsmarted by a slime mold

[@yournarrator2078]

7:15 "What's a-maze-ing, kill me-" got me so hard I lost my ability to take a full breath without it hurting. Thank you Frank, for delivering such good comedy. These documentaries are literally the only ones I can watch because otherwise I get bored.

[@NearlyBatman]

I... I didn't even catch this the first time I watched. Now I am having trouble breathing. Thank you.

[@murilloeng]

It got me too :)

[@encycl07pedia-]

"got me so hard" You might want to rephrase that.

[@Kitteh.B]

It was so smooth! I didn't catch it until I read your comment! Haha

[@JungleLibrary]

Yeah it got me hard too, which was awkward while standing next to an older lady on the bus.

[@draco3314]

ZeFrank, you are my childhood. Thank you for being awesome and hilarious for however many years it’s been!

[@knuckleburger]

Hear, hear! I feel we grew up together, he just doesn't know me. Feels weird. Kinda unjust.

[@englishsteve1465]

The number of people in the "Teddy" vid comments saying similar is incredible. Man iz genius u huh youbetcha

[@gabydewilde]

our dancing teacher

[@someonessecondaltaccount6932]

Not when you see the video about ducks

[@duncanambrose206]

My first thought was "me too!" Cus I remember finding the chameleon video in like 5th grade. I'm going into my college senior year now (I feel so old and decrepit)

[@chevic4481]

It's great how the humor in these never fails. It hasn't grown old, become outdated, zefrank is just naturally funny. And you always learn something new!

[@lucasmendoza7576]

I really like Ze Frank's model of quality over quantity, you may have to wait, but when he uploads, it is ALWAYS a treat.

[@CL-go2ji]

+

[@maloxi1472]

You must've grown several auxiliary heads by now 😲

[@mendmywings7238]

Me too. I would totally eat up more episodes though They're so good

[@MrJoeDone]

but i hope he never makes a 4 year break again

[@Petrico94]

I prefer to call it the CGP Grey model but plenty of creators do something like it.

[@ogsu9250]

I'm so happy Ze Frank didn't quit KZbin. I remember the hellish state of this platform 5 years ago with his 4 year absence

[@Kirmeins]

"I remember" makes it sound as if it's out of its hellish state by now... uuuhm, not sure about that part from what creators are saying and with the YT algorithms new, unhealthy addiction to people's underwear videos!

[@michaelantosch9888]

He finally overpowered the science hippies and escaped. Jerry helped.

[@kylestubbs8867]

“Five years ago… sorry, millions of years ago…”

[@peggedyourdad9560]

I think that's because he had a short stint at Buzzfeed of all places.

[@cenciende9401]

Well it's still full of too many ads and runs on a platform of hypocrisy and sexist content rules. I'm not sure it's in much of a better state.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

8:35 I think I watched this part 10 times over. What an angelic, beautiful sound to grace my sound holes.

[@durere]

That was such a poetic ending. Before the snail part. Edit: Never mind, I was writing that as the post credits were rolling. Poetry just dove head long into a dumpster fire.

[@Davedave590]

This mans voice is so calming that if he was my doctor and told me that I had 4 weeks to live, I would be like oh sure. And leave with no knowledge of how serious the situation is.

[@vapormissile]

"Very complex outcome indeed, once the frontal lobes liquefy. Jerry, put the formaldehyde away, it hasn't gotten THAT complex yet."

[@MrLeeBoy1994]

Sounds kinda like Morgan Freeman

[@hy-longcat]

@yes kindly whizz off, bot.

[@KiX-K4T13]

I'd also want him to say something coy in that voice too. That would be my dying wish. Like one last dose of sarcasm mixed* with genuine humor to top the news off with. 😂🤣

[@DrockSavage]

Absolutely

[@KlaxontheImpailr]

8:12 you know what this means right? Big corporations and governments are gonna look for a way to use this to their advantage. Imagine losing your job to automation but instead of a bot you’re replaced with a damn slime mold. That’s just insult to injury right there.

[@jafogx]

I was not ready to hear you read DNA sequences like that. I had to pause and laugh for a minute straight :D

[@annvogelpohl3502]

When you started read the DNA sequences, I busted out laughing and have to pause to recover and type this. That was brilliant. Thank you!

[@azilbean]

Me too!🤣

[@FiandMe16]

What he said!😂

[@Twisted_Rose96]

I love how you use ACTUAL scientific terms such as "touchy touchy" and "food stank"

[@MultiSadgasm]

I seriously hope the science hippies use such terminology 🤣

[@ultimatedeatrix9149]

Before i used to eagerly await his upload and watch them the second it's uploaded. Now ill go weeks restraining myself cause it's such a treat to watch! Man's a scientific & comedic genius.

[@CodeNameLea]

As a 90s kid I grew up addicted to The Crocodile Hunter and any other nature show....As an adult I am so happy to have found this Gem of a channel! I could watch for hours and hours ✌️🤟🤘

[@williamreely4431]

I keep a worm compost bin, and I occasionally see little slime mold colonies in it! They are absolutely vital decomposers, just like worms, fungi, bugs, and bacteria. They are everywhere in outdoor environments, and because they're microscopic for 99% of their life cycles, they rarely get the attention or appreciation they deserve. Thank you so much for this video for our little blob friends! ^_^

[@peggedyourdad9560]

Imagine how horrifying this thing would be if it was a few 100 times larger 0 _ 0.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@peggedyourdad9560 Consider that they just join up along meeting fringes, and they actually CAN get pretty big... It just depends on the habitat and food availability at the time... Even so, it doesn't take size to make something fairly horrifying, depending on what exactly horrifies you... I'm allergic to quite a lot of molds and spores and related... SO it doesn't take much more than a "wisp of smoke" from a podlike structure in view, and I'm usually pretty agitated about it on instinct... Bombardier Beetles aren't especially large, but by producing and discharging a combination of alcohol and peroxide NATURALLY, the little bastards quite literally SPIT FIRE in practically any direction when excited... Bees, Wasps, and Hornets have envenomating stingers, some of which can be quite brutal in their chemical make up and effects, even if you're NOT especially sensitive or allergic... AND some of these species like to swarm, led by pheromones to call an entire colony/nest (up to 100's of thousands strong) to assault you from the air... Ants may have venom, but may also apply acid, from acetic to formic adding a caustic blast to enhance their bites... AND they can swarm you, so your limb(s) can entirely feel like they've been plunged into fire... or worse. For larger "fiends" from nature, you can always look to plants, whether the relatively mild venoms of the Hawthorne (really more the thorns breaking off and festering infection) and Pyrocanthus (fire bush) to stinging nettles, and Poison Ivy or Poison Oak... AND we can even accept some "thermo-sensitive" plants from the Arizona Jumping Cactus (kind of a misnomer) and onward to a horde of vicious species, even including barbed needles and thorns similar to the porcupine for "wiggling deeper" with every motion until the barbs eventually drive the needles/pieces completely through whatever they've pierced... My mom used to warn folks "Dynamite comes in small packages." whenever they brought up size as a reason to measure something or someone for ferocity... I'll just point out that you should not so much consider the size of a dog in a fight, but rather the size of the fight in the dog. ;o)

[@sdfkjgh]

@@gnarthdarkanen7464: You forgot a couple of plants on that list: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrocnide_moroides en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchineel

[@peggedyourdad9560]

@@gnarthdarkanen7464 This is all very true, but I meant horrifying in the sense of something being a serious bodily threat to humans and larger animals, like, big enough to eat them like it does with the much smaller things it usually feeds on.

[@ogkurppa6703]

wait, you keep worms? like nightcrawlers? i want to do that now! my 4 y/o self woke up in an instant

[@innersight6070]

You know this guy is a legitimately good teacher. We actually come back just to eagerly hear what he has to teach us each video. I only wish school teachers had his capability to make it interesting.

[@scubaman2546]

😢

[@arandomnerd2432]

I have had some teachers like this and its awesome

[@xanderwarwick9973]

@@arandomnerd2432 me too. Shout-out to Mr. Olsen

[@arandomnerd2432]

@@xanderwarwick9973 Shout out to him!

[@_miobrot_603]

I don't think many teachers allow mildly interesting (vulgar) air vibrations.

[@faroshscale]

The slime passing on knowledge to other slimes is CRAZY to me

[@jeffkindschuh8888]

I've been following Ze / True Facts for close to seven years now. I can't think of any other channel that has done a better job creating content of continually improving quality while keeping the spark that made it so great to begin with. Ze cracks me up just as much as the first video I ever say (True Facts about the Mantis Shrimp), but can now make me go slack-jawed with awe, or even tear up at times. Thanks for the great work you do!

[@Slip0824]

You know… even when life doesn’t seem like it’s worth living, it’s always worth sticking around for another Ze Frank video.

[@parsley2624]

So true

[@kellyh1510]

Absolutely... Use whatever inspiration you need to put one foot in front of the other. The good moments are so worth it...

[@barbarahouk1983]

I also everyday look at what I do have not what I may have lost. I am grateful I still have life; 2 separate occasions I really could have drawn my last breath. Illnesses can be serious. I truly thankful many animals and plants have given their lives for me; I am thankful there has been a standing army & police to be protection. Yes, I have much for which to be thankful. I am glad I learned to processed grief; yes, there will always be a hole where I have lost important people in my life. I now can rejoice in what I received from them, although I can never gain anymore from each of them. That process took awhile, but I accomplished it. I will face it again since I have others whith whom I have bonded if I outlive them. I still am thankful they are in my life.

[@necroowl3953]

@@syaondri that's very kind of you, bro, you focused on his personal statement and not the compliment to the video

[@hailmammonmoments7568]

The jump from human life to slime life is fine…till you get eaten by a slug.

[@toybarons]

I live near a forest where I often take walks and see slime. Never knew that slime was so smart. Going to take time to appreciate that now. Thanks you Ze Frank for the education.

[@mr44mag]

Don't worry, they're not a bad slime.

[@tadasblinda8370]

God is amazing. The God of the Bible.

[@willowkay]

The best part is, they aren't smart at all. They have sets of very very simple instructions for each individual component, just reacting statically to certain inputs and reacting to neighbors actions. These cause amazing emergent properties at a larger scale, appearing as one large intelligent organism. Its the same for ant colonies, the actions of an individual are very simple, but the interactions of dumb individuals creates a smart whole. This is also how proteins and things work, and how the right combinations of non-living proteins can replicate and eventually create complex structures leading to living creatures. The cells in your body are all individually following unintelligent simple instructions, but the network is complex enough that it gives your body life.

[@esprero]

@@willowkay Meaning they are smart.

[@corporalsoletrain2132]

Just try not to think about how the slime is judging you.

[@Knewman7777]

"Looks like a smoker's lung on pop-rocks." 🤣 You're the king of similes.

[@ASkinnyWhiteGuy]

It's 2023 and this guy's still making his videos in 720p. The madlad.

[@jstar121298]

Can I get a ten minute video of ZeFrank just reading DNA sequences? It sounds like ASMR to me for some reason.

[@pluspiping]

It sounds to me like he's doing a Mr. Krabs impression, but it certainly is unique

[@dawnbarber5307]

I was taking a drink at that moment

[@MisF1998]

Please don't I don't want another nipple

[@jafogx]

People with polymastia listened to the whole thing :( F

[@MarcyTheKindaCoolWizard]

Do you really wanna risk growing an extra nipple?

[@briettasharee]

I love this man. When I was a teenager, I got stuck in a bad bout of depression. Didn’t shower for almost a month, couldn’t really move out of bed and barely ate. He would make these videos just sitting and talking to you and talking about life lessons and thoughts that you’d think alone in your room. Those videos helped me get out of bed and start showering and getting back to life. When I feel myself slipping back into that I go and find the teddy bear videos and older ones. I wish he’d still make those videos.

[@sarahwatts7152]

My favorite from that time: Hack to Power, Brian!

[@Vitali_Osandor]

Hope you are OK now. Great story.

[@MelodyWarp]

Sounds like they've already done what you needed at the time. The fact you don't need them anymore speaks to your perseverance, and that you come back and watch the new stuff even if it isn't why you were here in the first place shows that you changed along with him and his content. I think that's great.

[@Sherrilynn27]

Glad to hear you're doing better! 😊

[@crab_legs403]

He kind of did, with “when the world becomes small”! I loved that one

[@JustCilvi]

I honestly love how excited he gets about this clever moving snot

[@futurecyborg_]

yo im so glad this series is back, pls make more! ive been enjoying these for literally years lol

[@DollarGeneral_Is_a_Plague]

Time to get the lotion out

[@vapormissile]

We puts it on our skins

[@tapdancinggiraffe9047]

AYO!!!

[@chinghamburger2200]

@vapormissile Else, we gets the hose again

[@user-me7hx8zf9y]

😤😤😤

[@patatas08]

You're gonna use it to moisturize your skin right?

[@youtube.commentator]

2:26 read like a true kindergarten teacher. Thank you Zefrank

[@Wock__]

Wow. I love slime moulds and I've seen quite a few videos on them, but you summed up pretty much everything in one video; and with extra information on their full lifecycle and great visuals. That plus comedy in under 12 minutes! Bravo

[@xenxander]

the 'cheat day' thing with the tiny bug being consumed made me laugh xD

[@DrachenGothik666]

I was chortling throughout this whole video, but I absolutely lost it at "It looks like a Goth sinus infection..." You are a *TREASURE*, ZeFrank, you truly are.

[@Merip1214]

I loved the very last one xD "Looks like what happens when my dog gets into the blueberries" 😆

[@lifefindsaway7875]

Goth sinus infection did me in as well

[@Bluecho4]

Once again, ZeFrank giving all us Dungeon Masters more material to incorporate into our D&D campaigns. Imagine you venture into the Abyss, to fight Juiblex, Demon Lord of Slimes. Only to discover a forest of stalks, on which rest colorful spheres full of spores. But you better not touch them, lest the spores hatch into slimes that try to eat you. Or, worse, you better hope you didn't arrive when all the stalks dried out, and then the wind picks up. Spores all over your skin, in your hair, in your _lungs._ If you survive all that, then you see, on the horizon, the _pulsing mass._ And it's coming right for you. Run all you like. Hide in the cyclopean structures dotted around the landscape. Juiblex WILL find you. So where do you take shelter in Slime Hell? Well, on the shell of the Titan Snail, of course. This beastie is more interested in eating the spore stalks to really be interested in humanoids. To the point where a whole city has been constructed on its shell. A moving refuge against the predations of Juiblex.

[@princessmonkey3399]

Glad you’re not my DM

[@dark_neverland]

Having played in a dungeon exactly like you're describing many years ago, it is very horrifying but also kind of cool

[@mulhamsaifee7284]

Holy shit thats so creative I love that.

[@I_Give_No_Fux_]

Sounds like something that wouldn’t be too out of place in Morrowind.

[@AnonYmous-mc5zx]

Just Fireball

[@MeAuntieNora]

I knew a kid who also marked where he'd been with mucus. We called him Blacktooth on account of his black tooth. Good to know he shares his innovation with this intrepid organism. Godspeed, Blacktooth. Godspeed.

[@FEARSWTOR]

Did he go on to get a degree in civil engineering and now designs railway systems?

[@blucat4]

😂😂 Very good! 😂😂

[@dadisman6731]

This guy never ceases to make me chuckle and teach me at the same time.

[@sociallyundead419]

I WAS LITERALLY JUST THINKING ABOUT MAKING A MOLD D&D CHARACTER. JUST A CLUMP OF MOLD. AND I WANTED TO DO RESEARCH. YOU PUT THIS OUT AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME THANK YOU.

[@doccolour]

Don’t even care what the subject matter is… these “info comedy sketches” by Ze Frank are always so entertaining to watch. Never want them to end.

[@gandalf_thegrey]

I just cant do that. All the spider videos disgusts me on a different level. Its not really fear, but intense feelings of illness and agitation. My first instinct is to puke when i see a Tarantula, not to run away. And nobody takes that serious loooool fuck my life

[@sidthesloth12]

This is some authentic Ze Frank commentary, between telling the camera man to switch shots because of how weird the current shot is, or describing things in the weirdest way possible...I can never get enough Ze Frank. P.S. when the nuclei split and it had teeth...my first thought was, "Looks like a demon coming to eat me" and then Ze said nearly the same thing, I'm so glad I'm slowly turning into him

[@stevenseufert2520]

So the Jerry he keeps talking to is an imaginary camera man?

[@Noctua17]

So happy to see you do a video on slime molds! Such beautiful and fascinating little blobs

[@Allyourbase1990]

This is seriously the best channel . Just found it a week ago and I’m hoping he keeps making regular videos . Can’t get enough

[@lzbush407]

I studied Botany in college, with a course in Mycology, and I was really excited to see a video about plasmodial slime molds. They're so cool! I got to see one solve a maze in lab, and it was amazing.

[@AnonJuggerbot]

Was it a-MAZE-ing?killme

[@ba_charles]

i was raised by slime molds in a bio lab

[@DavidCastillaGil]

Is this art, comedy, educational content? Or is this simply awesome? This channel is amazing

[@Jrez]

Hey man, don't be trying to put zefrank in a box dude

[@icybrain8943]

educomarty?

[@LucianCorrvinus]

Answer ..yes..a thing can be more than just that one thing at any given time. And the best things like this, are..

[@metalmamasue3680]

Check out his video on Killer Surfing Snails and Tree/Leaf Hoppers. They're all so good, but those are personal favorites. Zefrank videos are always a treasure.

[@LucianCorrvinus]

AND ...check out the Peacock spiders episode with the should be smash hit ..Shiney Hiney. It's true art and you can dance to it...I do...shakin my rear like it could knit a sweater...it's awesome... really...

[@Hugmir]

that melding of 2 into 1 and the ensuing exchange of information looked more like a terrifying insight into Carpenter's Thing...

[@BeautyDaughtMom]

I have to say, you are truly brilliant! You have the most incredible way of teaching through humor! Thank you, Sir, for what you do. I haven’t laughed while learning this much in my entire lifetime! God bless you!❤

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

Bringing smiles to people is truly noble work. And Ze does it while educating us. Thank you, Ze.

[@lavamatstudios]

Yes I agree bringing slimes to people is a very admirable profession. Oh wait, you said... never mind.

[@chocolatefudgebrowni3225]

@@lavamatstudios I'm fecken weak, I thought they said slimes when I first read it 🤣🤣🤣

[@phutureproof]

@griffy ye no one wants to hear your mates awful rap or whatever that video is i aint clicking it, but, i will report it, youre welcome

[@vakna6300]

I love you ZeFrank, usually laugh my ass off, definitely makes breaks at work more enjoyable lmao.

[@iansuehooper7542]

Thoroughly enjoy your videos, particularly this one, for the humour and fascinating facts you present on the myriad of subject matter you present. Thank you so much for brightening the days. Stay well and keep safe.

[@oatkeroder]

I thought I had a mind that rejoiced in the theater of the absurd but you have taught me a lesson. You have applied it to reality and taught us thing along the way, for this I salute you! i also wish I could write and work with you. Please don't ever stop.

[@muyyek]

Okay, the bulk of this video made me giggle, but that last comment about the dog getting into the blueberries literally made my laugh out loud. Please, never change.

[@tinbanger66]

I laughed out loud and scared my mom! Had a chow hound that once ate a gallon of huckleberries, didn't check out her poo, though. She also ate 3/4 of a 2 layer chocolate cake!

[@m____w____6981]

In case anyone is curious, the DNA sequence Ze Frank read is from Chromosome 9 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast used to make beer.

[@markusgorelli5278]

Did you recognise it when he was reading it out? "Hey that DNA sounds familiar. Oh wait! It's Saccharomyces cerevisiae!" 😂

[@JamesDavy2009]

Whose by-products are used to make spreads like Marmite, Vegemite, etc.

[@m____w____6981]

@@markusgorelli5278 Of course, any self-respecting scientist knows the entire DNA sequence of S Cerevisiae. Actually, I plugged the sequence into a software called BLAST, from NCBI.

[@MorganMghee]

Appropriate

[@TheRheverend]

Amazed at the many microscopic worlds that are all around us and completely ignored by the average person. The design of this world is incredible

[@LoveMyPeeps]

Always love your humourous, interesting & educational takes. Thank you for all the work it takes to make these videos. Keep going!! 👌🙂👍

[@barrel6468]

My absolute favorite running joke of this channel is what I like to call the “butt-but phenomenon” Pure genius

[@dark_neverland]

I feel like you can't ever go wrong with like homonym jokes especially with the delivery that Ze has. I also like the running gag about like Jerry and always assuming pervy things for stuff that's like not even remotely that way

[@barrel6468]

@@dark_neverland this is the truth. the Jerry references are probably in my top 3

[@dark_neverland]

@@barrel6468 I think we also makes these so funny is that we never hear what he's actually saying so we kind of have to just guess based on Ze's replies

[@noaha6185]

During the pandemic shutdown I bought a yellow slimemold as a pet. Named him "Blobby". Blobby ate a diet of oatmeal and grew big and strong. Too big and strong. I deprived him of further oatmeal to keep him at a manageable size. Realizing that the only nearby source of sustenance was me, soon he began plotting his escape. In a matter of days he started climbing the walls of the terrarium he lived in. Planning an escape. I watched with an equal mix of horror and awe as he approached the lid. Terrified I was about to unleash an unstoppable pulsating amorphous scourge upon the fragile and unique local ecosystem. I prepared a spray bottle filled with bleach to put him down if he forced me to. I screamed and begged "Please Blobby don't make me do this!! Don't make me kill you! I love you Blobby! You are my child! I have the high ground Blobby you can't win this! Just go back inside and be a nice little slimemold and you can have all the oatmeal you can eat!!". But Blobby didn't listen. Blobby didn't have any ears, and he was a bit of a dick. He climbed the underside of the lid toward the air hole in the center. Making these strange hanging upside down snotty tendrils as he went. I sprayed the bleach, but it didn't work, it only made things so, so much worse. Blobby was mutating, evolving in real time before my eyes, realizing he had to evolve the ability to realize in order to realize how to defeat me and usurp the human race. He endeavored to use me as a symbiote, crawling through my ears while I slept and taking my brain for his own. Eventually he reached beyond the confines of his terrarium home with faint tendrils trying to escape unseen. I was forced to put him down and hold him a proper viking funeral. Burning him alive. I have a Blobby shaped hole in my heart forever now. He is never far from my thoughts. Ah parent hood. Its so beautiful when the young ones leave the nest and you have to murder them to save the human race :,) ❤ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArgsjdkcicuababfof7ahwbfixushrofuenfdisnfidusvsfog8thsbsskfotSTOPHIMSTOPHIMSTOPHIMSTOPHIMHELIESHELIES Thank you zfronk from the great documentary about me me me me the completely harm less species known to the human race us us us as slime molds. Get a harnless slime mold as a pet. They are fun and education and will not hurt you. Let them cuddle your ear it is as awwwwdorable! moldsHELIESHELIESDONTLISTENRUNRUNRUNRUMRUNHIDEHIDEHIDEHIDEHIDEAIRTIGHTEARPLUGSanfod82849jsbduaonfisuabfowjd2*#,"[÷9,$÷*•♡□¡●£39 I cried for days after that and I started to get worse and worse headaches. Seering pain like I've never felt, just behind my eyes. I've felt a presence in my mind ever since. It started slowly at first. A movement of my hand I didn't intend. I became averse to bright light. I stopped salting my food, and I couldn't seem to eat enough yet I was losing weight! It was truly fantastic I am so glad I got my lovely pet slimemold! I craves oatmeal. A focus on information or news Ive never cared about before. I've had gaps in my memory, blackouts where I do strange and horrible things only to discover the aftermath when I recover conciousness. I was diagnosed with trauma induced fuege states. Eventually they said I had schizophrenia. But I know the truth, Blobby succeeded. I didn't burn him, he tricked me with a hallucination, false sensory input. The tendrils were only so faint because they were only but the slimy trails he left behind when he crawled out. The slimy hanging ropes of his flesh were his children, and a decoy. He makes me... he makes me break into houses and drop them into peoples ears. They crawl inside and slowly take control. Just like they did while I instantly slept that night. Oh how I wish... I desperately wish I had never gotten a slime mold in the first place. I have dreams.. nightmares where I can see the plans he slowly is unraveling. [[But we'll get to those plans after a brief word from our sponsor! Slimemold ear plugs®️™️ are a brilliant new evironmentally safe and non infectious design to block out the sound of yourself screaming in pain as the slime mold ear plugs don't infect and consume your brain! Slime mold ead plugs are revolutionary and completely safe! By efficiently conforming through the inside of your ear they block out 99% of the sound of your not panicked family not begging you to not assimilate them! Unlike other earplugs that always fall out slimemold ear plugs cannot be removed! They even clean your earwax for you! You know the opposite sex loves ear wax free slimey ears! You will be sure to physically combine yourselves into a new organism! You can get slimemold earplugs for free just by taking a nice relaxing nap on the nearest moist forest floor. Use my promo code "Dribbleoatmealaroundyourselftoatteactcutesquishyfriends" to save 50% off your free earplugs! Talk about savings! And as a bonus! Put the slime mold onto all your Q tips and give them to your friends and the homeless as generous gifts! They even spore and in addition to not infecting your dog they look like fashionable jewelry! Humans which I am one truly do appreciate the fancy shinys. Primitive inferior gullible apes of which that I am one. Now back to the normal world that is continuing as it always has and isn't being taken over by fungal overlords!)) He's raising an army, infecting us one by one. Eventually once he infects every last living thing on this planet he's going to digest us all and fuse with his progeny. Blobby didn't evolve on earth.. no. He came on a meteor flung from a doomed planet, the end result of his plans for us. Sporing out into the universe to consume every life that was, is, and will be. There will be no stars, no plants, no moons, no life, no angels or demons, there will only be Blobbly. Faint tendrils connecting all matter, like neurons in a cosmic brain. With my last moments of freedom I summoned all my willpower to leave this comment. Please, someone, come and put an end to our cursed existence. Before Blobby succeeds in his evil plans. Burn me, burn all of us. Dont listen to what we say, he will try and trick you, to pull your emotional strings and convince you this is only the tail of a mad man. That they aren't really infected. Lies. Lies. LIES!! LIES!!! LIIESSSSS!!!! Burn us before he infects he too. Before he infects us all... YEEEEsssssss... Come to me. Come and stop me. Come and bringgggg me morreee foooddddd. JOinn usssss.

[@thegameranch5935]

You should write a book

[@noaha6185]

@@thegameranch5935 I'm autistic so I'm really bad at non verbal communication. My brain adapted sorta like a blind person and put all its skill points into words. That being said I actually really did get a pet slime mold during the shut down as well as several pre-made grow bags of gourmet mushrooms to watch bloom and eat. It was an interesting time. Blobby really did grow and try to escape, hanging from the ceiling. I killed him throughly with bleach and that was that. I just kinda kept editing my comment and it turned into... that. I just want to get seen by daddy Zefrank the real story is too boring even if I try to write it all dramatic. I figured creepypasta-ing it would get more likes and make it more visible.

[@matthewbowen5841]

What kind of substrate did you use?

[@markusgorelli5278]

omg this is great. look for short story sc-fi competitions and submit it. good luck!

[@DarkGhostHacker]

Lmao. This was even funnier than the video. Omfg I love this. Laughed so hard. Thanks

[@glitterlich]

incredible images, very instructive, hilarious, and a strangely touching ending! one of your best yet!

[@QuinnHarleyQuinn]

One of Your Best!! Thank you so much!!

[@rachelwebber3605]

I do a lot of work in the woods in Oregon, and I always love coming across the different slime molds! I've mostly seen bright yellow ones, but occasionally I'll spot an orange one. I always take pictures of them, just in case I bump into the same slime mold again. I've got pictures of the same yellow slime mold from the morning and afternoon on the same day, and it's impressive how much it changed in a few hours!

[@sanihasan5079]

I legit lost it and laughed out loud when he started reading the DNA sequence. Bravo.

[@tookitogo]

Me too!!

[@vitoriabottaro]

i swear i legitimately almost spit my coffee (i'm responding to your comment to push it up due to a bot stealing your original words)

[@christopherknight181]

This is one of the best I've seen, Man. Thank you

[@MarkBerberoglu]

Ze Frank reading DNA sequences is now my ringtone.

[@murkel7634]

I love how the lifeforms he covers just continue to become more and more primitive.

[@ernsthaft8031]

i demand a Ze Frank audiobook of the entire human Genome!

[@atechnocrat]

he could use ai to do the whole thing in his voice w/fluctuations that seem realistic. ... I suggest this approach and then see who listens the longest. I would make a hip hop remix of it.

[@heatherbailey5251]

I second this demand! Which means, Sir ZeFrank, you need to get busy making dreams come true. Ahhhh such bliss is shall be. Is it done yet?

[@xomvoid_akaluchiru_987]

I already knew a bit about slime mold but I decided to watch this video anyway, and I'm glad I did. This the first video I've seen from the channel and I love it already!

[@karenbass5812]

I showed this to my 70 year old Mom earlier and we giggled all the way through it. We have the same sense of humor. Love ❤ all these videos. I use your Playlist to sleep at night. I'm usually smirking while I fall asleep.

[@ahnafzaraf2354]

2:34 Damn that actually worked. Thanks mate!

[@luissemedo3597]

Now I got 4, damn

[@MarijnvdSterre]

3:43 suddenly a mouth full of teeth appeared and the fangs went open right away looking ready to strike. Scared the bejesus out of me. Edit: ok, shouldn't have paused and realized Ze Frank would mention it ^^

[@JahRoo]

The very first T.E.D. Talks that I'd seen had Ze Frank's presentation and it opened the doors for 2 of my favorite things to watch on youtube. Dude.. you're an awesome and comedically brilliant son of a ..gun. . I'm glad to see your still at it man. Cheers!

[@immario11]

I'm so addicted to your videos now. Best content I've found on KZbin in a long time.

[@johnk8452]

I watched while half asleep and was scared shit out at this 3:49

[@DanGamingFan2846]

It's amazing how an organism with no brain can learn so much and pass on that knowledge. And I love the way you explain it.your videos never fail to impress me.

[@tobypossum7386]

They *are* the brain

[@youtubestudiosucks978]

Their just like humans. Brainless and they keep multiplying

[@kissit012]

People with brains don’t think, beings with no brains do.

[@yvette.3075]

I guess you can't use slime mold as an insult of intelligence 😅

[@ember9361]

Have you been on Reddit? Lol

[@danasandoval624]

I didn’t get a notice when you posted this, I check back often because you are my favorite!! You never disappoint. Thanks!!!

[@sonnikaskytopaz9406]

Omw how entertaining is this.....LOVED watching this! These documentaries are 1 In a billion. Keep those videos coming.im doing marathon on your channel xx

[@Cameron-yq5ug]

5:19 I’ll never get tired of that joke 💀

[@icallmysugarcandy]

I have a friend who’s an engineer who acts so dang superior. Wait until I show him this and he realizes he’s only as smart as single-cell slime.

[@Just1Nora]

A single cell slime with no brain!

[@micahhewlett]

This has to be my favorite zefrank video, absolutely hysterical

[@angstydoodles1101]

I love slime molds so much. Great video!

[@aussiebloke609]

"...using this strategy it can solve a maze, but what's amazing kill me is that the solution..." Love that line - had to rewind to make sure I'd heard what I thought I'd heard. 🙂

[@CL-go2ji]

Same. The delivery does it.

[@TheOneCleanHippy]

That was some amazing information. Fungi is hands down the most underrated kingdom.

[@eduardodequechalvares4210]

Despite the name, Slime Molds are more closely related to Protists, not Fungi.

[@adamrodaway9116]

“Um, actually”, slime moulds aren’t fungi - they branched off well before the whole multicellular craze.

[@chocolatefudgebrowni3225]

@@adamrodaway9116 🤓

[@irishbatman2917]

Always love when your vids pop up!

[@TheK5K]

Brilliant - that perfect blend of education and entertainment. Thank you Ze Frank!

[@mikelipton6116]

Those slime molds seem smarter than some of my co-workers! Great video as always!

[@hiimapop7755]

It's funny that despite watching almost a dozen videos about these slime molds, you still taught me something new about them. Your research is very in-depth, and by far the most informative and entertaining when it comes to covering topics about living creatures.

[@jasoncrawford2664]

Oh my God! That was a mind-expanding experience I've always loved this show! Have a wonderful year Jason c

[@Michael_______]

I love these very much. Thank you zefrank

[@gjunky1513]

Perfect timing as a companion to the HBOs The Last of Us. The part where they can dry out and be reanimated play perfectly into the idea that the plague in the TV show/game came from a flour factory.

[@sentientdogma1206]

“The Last of Us” isn’t a real video game. It’s an Ellen Paige lookalike training wheels version of a real video game that NPCs play to give them the idea that they’re doing anything with their lives when they’re not.

[@jackalope_hunter]

@@sentientdogma1206 I've been thinking the exact same thing. Except once you realize that, you also realize that life is just a training wheels version of the simulation we're all in. There is nothing here worth living for, except to train our minds to meld with the universal consciousness and transcend. Your life is a joke. Acceptance is the only path forward.

[@redleaderdemon841]

I've always loved slime molds I'm so happy that zefrank made a video on themc they deserve it!

[@mounsterr]

This is one of the best of your videos I've seen in a while. Keep up the hilarity!