1. Were once classified as part of the Fungi kingdom

Like Fungus Slime Mold reproduces by forming fruiting bodies in unfavorable conditions.  Fruiting bodies have sporangia (spore clusters) on the ends of their stalks, allowing spores to eventually disperse into new habitats where they then germinate, restarting the life cycle. 

Despite their name they are not related to mold either, as mold is classified within the Fungi kingdom. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about finding these guys growing on your breads. Slime mold are currently classified as soil-dwelling amoeba in the Eukaryotic kingdom of Protista, under phylum Myxomycota.

2. Have almost no fossil record

Due to the lack of hardy structures and their preference for moist habitats the chances of preservation are extremely low. Although, some fossils have been found in amber. However, through genetic studies scientist have concluded that Slime Mold evolved from soil like amoebas while Fungi evolved from aquatic organisms that lost their flagellum.

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3. Slime Mold has been used in Art.

Artist have collaborated with Slime Mold to create some incredible pieces. Often painting with oat paste and then allowing Slime Mold to grow in the brush strokes. While other artists prefer to draw and photograph Slime Molds. So long as Slime Mold is involved artists are bound to create something colourful and unique. 

4. They were involved in the Potato crop failure in Ireland.

In the late 19^th century, a species of Slime Mold became rampant in many potato fields, causing death by growing into the steam and leaves of its victims. The subsequent famine resulted in close to a million deaths and the emigration of roughly one and a half million people to America and Canada. However, it is important to note that the level of devastation the potato famine reached was not the sole responsibility of slime mold. Monoculture played a significant role, as the slime mold would not have been able to spread so easily amongst crops if fields had more diversity. Furthermore, if Ireland had better programs in place to support their starving citizens, then the impacts would not have been so severe. 

5. Play a stabilizing role in soil ecosystems and nutrient cycling.

Slime molds are in a desperate need of a rebranding as many species keep ecosystems in balance by removing excess nitrogen, heavy metals, and bacteria. Slime Mold can be found in almost any environment. It may not be penicillin, but it sure has its place in our world. 

6. Can act as a whole despite having no brain.

Cells communicate and respond as a group despite maintaining their individual structures. Scientist have discovered that as a unit Slime Mold may take the shape of a slug or network and move through complicated mazes in search of food. When moving through these mazes Slime Mold display their ability to remember their routes by never repeating a route that did not lead to food. They also make human like decisions in labs when studying risk vs reward scenarios. 

7. Slime Mold have multiple Nuclei per cell.

Even in their unicellular structures Slime Mold have multiple nuclei per cell. Thousands of nuclei gather in one cell during a stage of development when the once separate flagellated cells gather and fuse. 

8. Some species have 500 Genders.

Specifically, Physarum polycephalum display over 500 different sexes, while other species of slime mold have only two sexes. In comparison the human genome typically presents two sexes through two possible combinations of the X and Y genes. While slime mold has three genes with multiple variations that determine sex, and each adult has two copies of each genes. Furthermore, each cell can produce eight different types of sex cells based on each combination. 

9. They display Altruism.

When these amoeba form dense mushroom like structures to disperse their spores, certain cells take on the role of searching for infectious bacteria. When these cells find the bacteria, they consume it, leave the colony, and let the virus kill them. Thus, making the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good of the colony. Altruism is also displayed in the making of the mushroom body, as individuals transform into bundles of cellulose to make the stalk. Others then climb up this stalk and turn into spores. However, some slime molds have the ‘cheat’ gene and are prone to always becoming spores. Most intelligently, slime mold has developed a system to weed out the cheats. The slime molds who die to create the stalks preserve their genes by helping their spore destined kin. In the world of slime mold, they recognize kin through a protein which acts like a Velcro connecting each other. As cheat genes would eventually become less related to their colonies, they would eventually not fit the Velcro seal and be dislodged from the colony. 

10. They evolved 600 million years ago.

As scientist continue to study Slime Mold, they get closer to finding its common ancestor. It is thought that the first slime molds played important roles in creating soil, as our planet was first colonized by film bacteria, slime molds favourite snack. 

Please note some of the information provided in this article was paraphrased from Carl Zimmer 2011 New York Times article Can Answers to Evolution Be Found in Slime.