Medien Wiki - User contributions [en]

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-15T11:08:10Z

Kiana sedighi: final fixes

= Home for Two: A Slime Mold Coexistence Experiment =

== Introduction ==
For my final DIY BioLab project, I wanted to create an experiment that was both biological and narrative. Instead of only observing the growth of one slime mold, I wanted to place two different slime mold species in the same environment and document what happened when their growing networks approached each other.

The two organisms used in this experiment were '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. At the beginning, both looked very similar because they were yellowish, which made it difficult to visually separate them during observation. Because of this, I later used a red pigment on the food source of one culture to create a visible contrast.

My final goal was to create a video showing the interaction between the two slime molds. I wanted the project to ask a simple question:

'''Can two different living organisms share the same space?'''

== Materials ==
For this experiment I used:

* Badhamia culture
* Physarum polycephalum culture
* Agar-agar
* Water
* Petri dishes
* Oat flakes
* [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|Red pigment / coloring powder]]
* Laboratory glassware
* Spoon
* Tweezers
* Gloves
* Microscope / camera setup
* Canon DSLR camera
* Python
* Video editing software

== Preparing the First Badhamia Culture ==
[[File:Badhamia.jpg|thumb|209x209px|Badhamia]]
At the beginning of the project, I prepared a simple agar medium for the slime mold.

I mixed agar-agar with water, heated it until the agar dissolved, and poured the liquid into a Petri dish. After the agar cooled down and became solid, I transferred '''Badhamia''' from the kit that was ordered for me by our lab supervisor Mr. Volpato.

I placed several oat flakes on the agar as food and left the culture to grow. This first step was mainly about keeping the Badhamia alive and giving it enough time to become stronger before using it in the final experiment.
[[File:Photo 2026-07-05 03-33-07.jpg|thumb|207x207px|'''Badhamia''' kit]]

== Receiving the Second Slime Mold ==
After the Badhamia culture had started growing, I contacted another student and exchanged slime mold cultures with her. I gave her part of my '''Badhamia''' culture, and she gave me '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== The Problem of Visibility ==
[[File:Colored Physarum polycephalum.jpg|thumb|131x131px|Color Physarum polycephalum]]
At first, both cultures were yellowish and visually very similar. This was a problem because once they started growing on the same agar plate, it would be difficult to tell which slime mold was which.
[[File:Food coloring.jpg|thumb|158x158px|P1. Food coloring]]
Because of this, [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|I looked at a previous experiment done by Daria Lukianchuk, who had tested different coloring methods. In her experiment, an unknown red pigment had produced the clearest visible result. I used this information as a practical reference for my own setup.]]

Instead of repeating the full color-testing process, I decided to use the same red pigment to color the food source of one slime mold. This made the two sides easier to distinguish in the final video. Then I prepared the food as she mentioned.
[[File:P2. Food coloring.jpg|thumb|163x163px|P2. Food coloring]]

== Preparing the Final Petri Dish ==
For the final experiment, I prepared new agar plates.
[[File:Preparing the Final Petri Dish.jpg|thumb|163x163px|Preparing the Final Petri Dish]]
I again mixed agar-agar with water, heated the mixture, and poured it into a clean Petri dish. After the agar solidified, I transferred both slime molds onto the same plate.

[[File:Mixfinal.jpg|thumb|197x197px]]
One side contained '''Badhamia''', and the other side contained '''Physarum polycephalum'''. This setup became the central scene of the project: two different organisms, one shared environment.

[[File:Video 2026-07-05 03-18-55.mp4|thumb|Camera Setup]]

== Camera Setup and Recording ==
To document the experiment, I used a fixed camera setup.

The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and under it a power source so that it could record for several hours without interruption. I configured the camera to take one photo every '''10 seconds'''.

This interval was chosen because it created enough frames for a smooth, while still keeping the number of images manageable.

During the recording session, the camera captured thousands of photographs of the slime molds.
== Creating the Video with Python ==
After the recording session, I transferred the images to my computer.

The folder contained both image files and raw camera files, so I used only the JPG images for the final processing. I wrote a Python program to load the images in order, align them, remove problematic outsider frames when necessary, and combine the sequence into a video.<syntaxhighlight lang="python" line="1">
import cv2
import os
import glob
import numpy as np

# SETTINGS
FPS = 30
OUTPUT = "timelapse_aligned.mp4"
IMAGE_EXT = "*.JPG"

# Read JPG files only
files = sorted(glob.glob(IMAGE_EXT))

if not files:
raise Exception("No JPG files found in this folder.")

print(f"Found {len(files)} JPG images")

# Use first image as reference
ref = cv2.imread(files[0])
ref = cv2.resize(ref, (1920, 1080))
ref_gray = cv2.cvtColor(ref, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

h, w = ref.shape[:2]

video = cv2.VideoWriter(
OUTPUT,
cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*"mp4v"),
FPS,
(w, h)
)

last_good = ref.copy()

for i, file in enumerate(files):
img = cv2.imread(file)

if img is None:
print("Skipped unreadable:", file)
continue

# Fix portrait/rotated outsiders automatically
if img.shape[0] > img.shape[1]:
img = cv2.rotate(img, cv2.ROTATE_90_CLOCKWISE)

img = cv2.resize(img, (w, h))
gray = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

# Align image to first image
warp_matrix = np.eye(2, 3, dtype=np.float32)

try:
_, warp_matrix = cv2.findTransformECC(
ref_gray,
gray,
warp_matrix,
cv2.MOTION_EUCLIDEAN,
criteria=(cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_EPS | cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_COUNT, 50, 1e-5)
)

aligned = cv2.warpAffine(
img,
warp_matrix,
(w, h),
flags=cv2.INTER_LINEAR + cv2.WARP_INVERSE_MAP
)

video.write(aligned)
last_good = aligned

except cv2.error:
# If alignment fails, probably outsider / bad photo
print("Skipped outsider or badly rotated image:", file)
continue

if i % 100 == 0:
print(f"Processed {i}/{len(files)}")

video.release()
print("Done:", OUTPUT)
</syntaxhighlight>The final video was created from the image sequence and exported as an MP4 file. After that, I edited the video further by adding an intro, title cards, music, and an ending message.
== Artistic Concept ==
This project started as an attempt to create a poetic slime mold film about two different organisms sharing one space. The idea behind '''Home for Two''' was to connect biological observation with a wider reflection on difference and coexistence. I wanted to present the two slime molds almost like two characters sharing one space:

'''One — Badhamia'''

'''Two — Physarum polycephalum'''

However, after discussing the experiment with our lab supervisor, I realized that my original interpretation was biologically too simplified. Since both slime molds depend on the same food source, their relationship cannot be described only as peaceful coexistence; competition for food and space must also be considered. In addition, neither organism showed growth during the first attempt, so they never approached or interacted with each other. As a result, the video could not support the original concept or answer the question I had proposed.

In the actual experiment, the two organisms also did not grow as expected. Because of this, the biological part of the project cannot be presented as a successful coexistence experiment. Still, I decided to continue working with the material visually.

For the next attempt, I want to develop the video concept in a more playful direction: not as a peaceful home, but more like a small battlefield, where two organisms compete for space and food.[[File:Home4two.mp4|thumb|Home for Two|0x0px]]

== Conclusion ==
After the experiment and the feedback discussion, I realized that my original question — whether two different living organisms can share the same space — was too broad. Organisms already share ecosystems in many ways, but my video did not actually show '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum''' encountering or interacting with each other.

Because of this, the first experiment cannot answer the question I originally asked. The two slime molds did not grow strongly, and the concept of peaceful coexistence was biologically too simplified. Since both organisms use the same food source, their relationship is more likely to involve competition than harmony.

I now see this project as an unfinished first attempt rather than a successful final experiment. Still, I learned how to prepare agar plates, maintain slime mold cultures, exchange biological material, use colored food as a visual marker, build a setup, and turn thousands of photos into a video using Python.

= Second Experimental Attempt: A Follow-Up Slime Mold Study =

== Introduction ==
After completing the first experiment and discussing the results with our lab supervisor, it became clear that the experiment needed to be repeated. The original setup did not produce the expected interaction between the two slime mold species, and the resulting video did not clearly show their growth or encounter.

For the second attempt, I focused on improving both the biological setup and the recording process. Rather than trying to support a specific artistic interpretation, the goal was simply to document the growth of the two slime molds under improved conditions and observe what would happen when they were placed on the same agar plate.

== Recovering the Cultures ==
After the first experiment, both slime mold cultures developed mold contamination and could no longer be used. Our lab supervisor, Mr. Alessandro Volpato, isolated the cultures to help them recover before the experiment could be repeated.

After several days, the cultures were ready to be used again.
[[File:New petri dish getting ready.jpg|thumb|175x175px|slim mold]]

== Preparing the Agar Plates ==
As in the first experiment, I prepared a fresh agar medium by mixing agar-agar with water, heating the mixture until the agar dissolved, and pouring it into clean Petri dishes. After the agar solidified, it was ready for the new cultures.

== Preparing the Colored Food ==
To make the growth easier to observe, I again prepared colored oat flakes.
[[File:Colored red food.jpg|thumb|151x151px]]
I mixed [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|the unknown red pigment]] with water, and oat flakes, and allowed them to absorb the color before using them as food for '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== Growing the New Culture ==
[[File:Ph-w-red-food.jpg|thumb|157x157px]]
A small piece of '''Physarum polycephalum''' was transferred onto a fresh Petri dish together with the colored oat flakes. The culture was left to grow for one day so that it became stronger before the final recording.

== Preparing the Final Recording Setup ==
After the culture had recovered, I prepared another fresh agar plate for the final recording.

Badhamia and '''Physarum polycephalum''' were placed on opposite sides of the Petri dish, with oat flakes positioned between them to encourage both organisms to grow toward the same area.

Unlike the first experiment, I removed the light source underneath the Petri dish after realizing that it caused noticeable flickering. This resulted in much more stable lighting throughout the recording.

== Overnight Recording ==
The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and connected to an external power source so it could record continuously throughout the night.

For this experiment, the camera captured one photograph every '''30 seconds'''. I started the recording in the evening, checked the setup several times during the night to ensure everything was working correctly, and collected the experiment the following morning.

== Creating the Video ==
After transferring the photographs to my computer, I processed the images using the same Python workflow developed during the first experiment.
[[File:Final video second try lower quality.mp4|thumb]]
[[File:Petri dish after two days of growth.jpg|thumb|Petri dish after two days of growth]]
The images were combined into a video, which was then edited by adding titles and music.

== Observations ==
The second experiment produced a different result than expected.

Although both slime molds were placed on the same Petri dish, only '''Physarum polycephalum''' showed growth throughout the recording. It expanded across the agar surface and eventually occupied much of the available space, while '''Badhamia''' remained inactive.

An interesting observation was that '''Physarum polycephalum''' gradually lost its red coloration as it continued feeding. Because new, uncolored oat flakes were available, the organism slowly returned to its natural yellow appearance during the recording.

As a result, the experiment did not capture the interaction between two actively growing slime molds. Instead, it documented the successful growth of '''Physarum polycephalum''' under the improved experimental conditions.

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-13T11:39:58Z

Kiana sedighi: final touches

= Home for Two: A Slime Mold Coexistence Experiment =

== Introduction ==
For my final DIY BioLab project, I wanted to create an experiment that was both biological and narrative. Instead of only observing the growth of one slime mold, I wanted to place two different slime mold species in the same environment and document what happened when their growing networks approached each other.

The two organisms used in this experiment were '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. At the beginning, both looked very similar because they were yellowish, which made it difficult to visually separate them during observation. Because of this, I later used a red pigment on the food source of one culture to create a visible contrast.

My final goal was to create a video showing the interaction between the two slime molds. I wanted the project to ask a simple question:

'''Can two different living organisms share the same space?'''

== Materials ==
For this experiment I used:

* Badhamia culture
* Physarum polycephalum culture
* Agar-agar
* Water
* Petri dishes
* Oat flakes
* [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|Red pigment / coloring powder]]
* Laboratory glassware
* Spoon
* Tweezers
* Gloves
* Microscope / camera setup
* Canon DSLR camera
* Python
* Video editing software

== Preparing the First Badhamia Culture ==
[[File:Badhamia.jpg|thumb|209x209px|Badhamia]]
At the beginning of the project, I prepared a simple agar medium for the slime mold.

I mixed agar-agar with water, heated it until the agar dissolved, and poured the liquid into a Petri dish. After the agar cooled down and became solid, I transferred '''Badhamia''' from the kit that was ordered for me by our lab supervisor Mr. Volpato.

I placed several oat flakes on the agar as food and left the culture to grow. This first step was mainly about keeping the Badhamia alive and giving it enough time to become stronger before using it in the final experiment.
[[File:Photo 2026-07-05 03-33-07.jpg|thumb|207x207px|'''Badhamia''' kit]]

== Receiving the Second Slime Mold ==
After the Badhamia culture had started growing, I contacted another student and exchanged slime mold cultures with her. I gave her part of my '''Badhamia''' culture, and she gave me '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== The Problem of Visibility ==
[[File:Colored Physarum polycephalum.jpg|thumb|131x131px|Color Physarum polycephalum]]
At first, both cultures were yellowish and visually very similar. This was a problem because once they started growing on the same agar plate, it would be difficult to tell which slime mold was which.
[[File:Food coloring.jpg|thumb|158x158px|P1. Food coloring]]
Because of this, [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|I looked at a previous experiment done by Daria Lukianchuk, who had tested different coloring methods. In her experiment, an unknown red pigment had produced the clearest visible result. I used this information as a practical reference for my own setup.]]

Instead of repeating the full color-testing process, I decided to use the same red pigment to color the food source of one slime mold. This made the two sides easier to distinguish in the final video. Then I prepared the food as she mentioned.
[[File:P2. Food coloring.jpg|thumb|163x163px|P2. Food coloring]]

== Preparing the Final Petri Dish ==
For the final experiment, I prepared new agar plates.
[[File:Preparing the Final Petri Dish.jpg|thumb|163x163px|Preparing the Final Petri Dish]]
I again mixed agar-agar with water, heated the mixture, and poured it into a clean Petri dish. After the agar solidified, I transferred both slime molds onto the same plate.

[[File:Mixfinal.jpg|thumb|197x197px]]
One side contained '''Badhamia''', and the other side contained '''Physarum polycephalum'''. This setup became the central scene of the project: two different organisms, one shared environment.

[[File:Video 2026-07-05 03-18-55.mp4|thumb|Camera Setup]]

== Camera Setup and Recording ==
To document the experiment, I used a fixed camera setup.

The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and under it a power source so that it could record for several hours without interruption. I configured the camera to take one photo every '''10 seconds'''.

This interval was chosen because it created enough frames for a smooth, while still keeping the number of images manageable.

During the recording session, the camera captured thousands of photographs of the slime molds.
== Creating the Video with Python ==
After the recording session, I transferred the images to my computer.

The folder contained both image files and raw camera files, so I used only the JPG images for the final processing. I wrote a Python program to load the images in order, align them, remove problematic outsider frames when necessary, and combine the sequence into a video.<syntaxhighlight lang="python" line="1">
import cv2
import os
import glob
import numpy as np

# SETTINGS
FPS = 30
OUTPUT = "timelapse_aligned.mp4"
IMAGE_EXT = "*.JPG"

# Read JPG files only
files = sorted(glob.glob(IMAGE_EXT))

if not files:
raise Exception("No JPG files found in this folder.")

print(f"Found {len(files)} JPG images")

# Use first image as reference
ref = cv2.imread(files[0])
ref = cv2.resize(ref, (1920, 1080))
ref_gray = cv2.cvtColor(ref, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

h, w = ref.shape[:2]

video = cv2.VideoWriter(
OUTPUT,
cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*"mp4v"),
FPS,
(w, h)
)

last_good = ref.copy()

for i, file in enumerate(files):
img = cv2.imread(file)

if img is None:
print("Skipped unreadable:", file)
continue

# Fix portrait/rotated outsiders automatically
if img.shape[0] > img.shape[1]:
img = cv2.rotate(img, cv2.ROTATE_90_CLOCKWISE)

img = cv2.resize(img, (w, h))
gray = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

# Align image to first image
warp_matrix = np.eye(2, 3, dtype=np.float32)

try:
_, warp_matrix = cv2.findTransformECC(
ref_gray,
gray,
warp_matrix,
cv2.MOTION_EUCLIDEAN,
criteria=(cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_EPS | cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_COUNT, 50, 1e-5)
)

aligned = cv2.warpAffine(
img,
warp_matrix,
(w, h),
flags=cv2.INTER_LINEAR + cv2.WARP_INVERSE_MAP
)

video.write(aligned)
last_good = aligned

except cv2.error:
# If alignment fails, probably outsider / bad photo
print("Skipped outsider or badly rotated image:", file)
continue

if i % 100 == 0:
print(f"Processed {i}/{len(files)}")

video.release()
print("Done:", OUTPUT)
</syntaxhighlight>The final video was created from the image sequence and exported as an MP4 file. After that, I edited the video further by adding an intro, title cards, music, and an ending message.
== Artistic Concept ==
The original concept of the video was '''Home for Two'''. I wanted to present the two slime molds almost like two characters sharing one space:

'''One — Badhamia'''

'''Two — Physarum polycephalum'''

However, after discussing the experiment with our lab supervisor, I realized that my first interpretation was not good. Since both slime molds depend on the same food source, the situation is not simply peaceful coexistence. It is also competition.

In the actual experiment, the two organisms also did not grow as expected. Because of this, the biological part of the project cannot be presented as a successful coexistence experiment. Still, I decided to continue working with the material visually.

For the next attempt, I want to develop the video concept in a more playful direction: not as a peaceful home, but more like a small battlefield, where two organisms compete for space and food.[[File:Home4two.mp4|thumb|Home for Two|0x0px]]

== Conclusion ==
This project started as an attempt to create a poetic slime mold film about two different organisms sharing one space. The idea behind '''Home for Two''' was to connect biological observation with a wider reflection on difference and coexistence.

However, after the experiment and the feedback discussion, I realized that my original question — whether two different living organisms can share the same space — was too broad. Organisms already share ecosystems in many ways, but my video did not actually show '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum''' encountering or interacting with each other.

Because of this, the first experiment cannot answer the question I originally asked. The two slime molds did not grow strongly, and the concept of peaceful coexistence was biologically too simplified. Since both organisms use the same food source, their relationship is more likely to involve competition than harmony.

I now see this project as an unfinished first attempt rather than a successful final experiment. Still, I learned how to prepare agar plates, maintain slime mold cultures, exchange biological material, use colored food as a visual marker, build a setup, and turn thousands of photos into a video using Python.

= Second Experimental Attempt: A Follow-Up Slime Mold Study =

== Introduction ==
After completing the first experiment and discussing the results with our lab supervisor, it became clear that the experiment needed to be repeated. The original setup did not produce the expected interaction between the two slime mold species, and the resulting video did not clearly show their growth or encounter.

For the second attempt, I focused on improving both the biological setup and the recording process. Rather than trying to support a specific artistic interpretation, the goal was simply to document the growth of the two slime molds under improved conditions and observe what would happen when they were placed on the same agar plate.

== Recovering the Cultures ==
After the first experiment, both slime mold cultures developed mold contamination and could no longer be used. Our lab supervisor, Mr. Alessandro Volpato, isolated the cultures to help them recover before the experiment could be repeated.

After several days, the cultures were ready to be used again.
[[File:New petri dish getting ready.jpg|thumb|175x175px|slim mold]]

== Preparing the Agar Plates ==
As in the first experiment, I prepared a fresh agar medium by mixing agar-agar with water, heating the mixture until the agar dissolved, and pouring it into clean Petri dishes. After the agar solidified, it was ready for the new cultures.

== Preparing the Colored Food ==
To make the growth easier to observe, I again prepared colored oat flakes.
[[File:Colored red food.jpg|thumb|151x151px]]
I mixed [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|the unknown red pigment]] with water, and oat flakes, and allowed them to absorb the color before using them as food for '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== Growing the New Culture ==
[[File:Ph-w-red-food.jpg|thumb|157x157px]]
A small piece of '''Physarum polycephalum''' was transferred onto a fresh Petri dish together with the colored oat flakes. The culture was left to grow for one day so that it became stronger before the final recording.

== Preparing the Final Recording Setup ==
After the culture had recovered, I prepared another fresh agar plate for the final recording.

Badhamia and '''Physarum polycephalum''' were placed on opposite sides of the Petri dish, with oat flakes positioned between them to encourage both organisms to grow toward the same area.

Unlike the first experiment, I removed the light source underneath the Petri dish after realizing that it caused noticeable flickering. This resulted in much more stable lighting throughout the recording.

== Overnight Recording ==
The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and connected to an external power source so it could record continuously throughout the night.

For this experiment, the camera captured one photograph every '''30 seconds'''. I started the recording in the evening, checked the setup several times during the night to ensure everything was working correctly, and collected the experiment the following morning.

== Creating the Video ==
After transferring the photographs to my computer, I processed the images using the same Python workflow developed during the first experiment.
[[File:Final video second try lower quality.mp4|thumb]]
[[File:Petri dish after two days of growth.jpg|thumb|Petri dish after two days of growth]]
The images were combined into a video, which was then edited by adding titles and music.

== Observations ==
The second experiment produced a different result than expected.

Although both slime molds were placed on the same Petri dish, only '''Physarum polycephalum''' showed growth throughout the recording. It expanded across the agar surface and eventually occupied much of the available space, while '''Badhamia''' remained inactive.

An interesting observation was that '''Physarum polycephalum''' gradually lost its red coloration as it continued feeding. Because new, uncolored oat flakes were available, the organism slowly returned to its natural yellow appearance during the recording.

As a result, the experiment did not capture the interaction between two actively growing slime molds. Instead, it documented the successful growth of '''Physarum polycephalum''' under the improved experimental conditions.

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-13T11:38:07Z

Kiana sedighi: added video

= Home for Two: A Slime Mold Coexistence Experiment =

== Introduction ==
For my final DIY BioLab project, I wanted to create an experiment that was both biological and narrative. Instead of only observing the growth of one slime mold, I wanted to place two different slime mold species in the same environment and document what happened when their growing networks approached each other.

The two organisms used in this experiment were '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. At the beginning, both looked very similar because they were yellowish, which made it difficult to visually separate them during observation. Because of this, I later used a red pigment on the food source of one culture to create a visible contrast.

My final goal was to create a video showing the interaction between the two slime molds. I wanted the project to ask a simple question:

'''Can two different living organisms share the same space?'''

== Materials ==
For this experiment I used:

* Badhamia culture
* Physarum polycephalum culture
* Agar-agar
* Water
* Petri dishes
* Oat flakes
* [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|Red pigment / coloring powder]]
* Laboratory glassware
* Spoon
* Tweezers
* Gloves
* Microscope / camera setup
* Canon DSLR camera
* Python
* Video editing software

== Preparing the First Badhamia Culture ==
[[File:Badhamia.jpg|thumb|209x209px|Badhamia]]
At the beginning of the project, I prepared a simple agar medium for the slime mold.

I mixed agar-agar with water, heated it until the agar dissolved, and poured the liquid into a Petri dish. After the agar cooled down and became solid, I transferred '''Badhamia''' from the kit that was ordered for me by our lab supervisor Mr. Volpato.

I placed several oat flakes on the agar as food and left the culture to grow. This first step was mainly about keeping the Badhamia alive and giving it enough time to become stronger before using it in the final experiment.
[[File:Photo 2026-07-05 03-33-07.jpg|thumb|207x207px|'''Badhamia''' kit]]

== Receiving the Second Slime Mold ==
After the Badhamia culture had started growing, I contacted another student and exchanged slime mold cultures with her. I gave her part of my '''Badhamia''' culture, and she gave me '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== The Problem of Visibility ==
[[File:Colored Physarum polycephalum.jpg|thumb|131x131px|Color Physarum polycephalum]]
At first, both cultures were yellowish and visually very similar. This was a problem because once they started growing on the same agar plate, it would be difficult to tell which slime mold was which.
[[File:Food coloring.jpg|thumb|158x158px|P1. Food coloring]]
Because of this, [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|I looked at a previous experiment done by Daria Lukianchuk, who had tested different coloring methods. In her experiment, an unknown red pigment had produced the clearest visible result. I used this information as a practical reference for my own setup.]]

Instead of repeating the full color-testing process, I decided to use the same red pigment to color the food source of one slime mold. This made the two sides easier to distinguish in the final video. Then I prepared the food as she mentioned.
[[File:P2. Food coloring.jpg|thumb|163x163px|P2. Food coloring]]

== Preparing the Final Petri Dish ==
For the final experiment, I prepared new agar plates.
[[File:Preparing the Final Petri Dish.jpg|thumb|163x163px|Preparing the Final Petri Dish]]
I again mixed agar-agar with water, heated the mixture, and poured it into a clean Petri dish. After the agar solidified, I transferred both slime molds onto the same plate.

[[File:Mixfinal.jpg|thumb|197x197px]]
One side contained '''Badhamia''', and the other side contained '''Physarum polycephalum'''. This setup became the central scene of the project: two different organisms, one shared environment.

[[File:Video 2026-07-05 03-18-55.mp4|thumb|Camera Setup]]

== Camera Setup and Recording ==
To document the experiment, I used a fixed camera setup.

The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and under it a power source so that it could record for several hours without interruption. I configured the camera to take one photo every '''10 seconds'''.

This interval was chosen because it created enough frames for a smooth, while still keeping the number of images manageable.

During the recording session, the camera captured thousands of photographs of the slime molds.
== Creating the Video with Python ==
After the recording session, I transferred the images to my computer.

The folder contained both image files and raw camera files, so I used only the JPG images for the final processing. I wrote a Python program to load the images in order, align them, remove problematic outsider frames when necessary, and combine the sequence into a video.<syntaxhighlight lang="python" line="1">
import cv2
import os
import glob
import numpy as np

# SETTINGS
FPS = 30
OUTPUT = "timelapse_aligned.mp4"
IMAGE_EXT = "*.JPG"

# Read JPG files only
files = sorted(glob.glob(IMAGE_EXT))

if not files:
raise Exception("No JPG files found in this folder.")

print(f"Found {len(files)} JPG images")

# Use first image as reference
ref = cv2.imread(files[0])
ref = cv2.resize(ref, (1920, 1080))
ref_gray = cv2.cvtColor(ref, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

h, w = ref.shape[:2]

video = cv2.VideoWriter(
OUTPUT,
cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*"mp4v"),
FPS,
(w, h)
)

last_good = ref.copy()

for i, file in enumerate(files):
img = cv2.imread(file)

if img is None:
print("Skipped unreadable:", file)
continue

# Fix portrait/rotated outsiders automatically
if img.shape[0] > img.shape[1]:
img = cv2.rotate(img, cv2.ROTATE_90_CLOCKWISE)

img = cv2.resize(img, (w, h))
gray = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

# Align image to first image
warp_matrix = np.eye(2, 3, dtype=np.float32)

try:
_, warp_matrix = cv2.findTransformECC(
ref_gray,
gray,
warp_matrix,
cv2.MOTION_EUCLIDEAN,
criteria=(cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_EPS | cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_COUNT, 50, 1e-5)
)

aligned = cv2.warpAffine(
img,
warp_matrix,
(w, h),
flags=cv2.INTER_LINEAR + cv2.WARP_INVERSE_MAP
)

video.write(aligned)
last_good = aligned

except cv2.error:
# If alignment fails, probably outsider / bad photo
print("Skipped outsider or badly rotated image:", file)
continue

if i % 100 == 0:
print(f"Processed {i}/{len(files)}")

video.release()
print("Done:", OUTPUT)
</syntaxhighlight>The final video was created from the image sequence and exported as an MP4 file. After that, I edited the video further by adding an intro, title cards, music, and an ending message.
== Artistic Concept ==
The original concept of the video was '''Home for Two'''. I wanted to present the two slime molds almost like two characters sharing one space:

'''One — Badhamia'''

'''Two — Physarum polycephalum'''

However, after discussing the experiment with our lab supervisor, I realized that my first interpretation was not good. Since both slime molds depend on the same food source, the situation is not simply peaceful coexistence. It is also competition.

In the actual experiment, the two organisms also did not grow as expected. Because of this, the biological part of the project cannot be presented as a successful coexistence experiment. Still, I decided to continue working with the material visually.

For the next attempt, I want to develop the video concept in a more playful direction: not as a peaceful home, but more like a small battlefield, where two organisms compete for space and food.[[File:Home4two.mp4|thumb|Home for Two|0x0px]]

== Conclusion ==
This project started as an attempt to create a poetic slime mold film about two different organisms sharing one space. The idea behind '''Home for Two''' was to connect biological observation with a wider reflection on difference and coexistence.

However, after the experiment and the feedback discussion, I realized that my original question — whether two different living organisms can share the same space — was too broad. Organisms already share ecosystems in many ways, but my video did not actually show '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum''' encountering or interacting with each other.

Because of this, the first experiment cannot answer the question I originally asked. The two slime molds did not grow strongly, and the concept of peaceful coexistence was biologically too simplified. Since both organisms use the same food source, their relationship is more likely to involve competition than harmony.

I now see this project as an unfinished first attempt rather than a successful final experiment. Still, I learned how to prepare agar plates, maintain slime mold cultures, exchange biological material, use colored food as a visual marker, build a setup, and turn thousands of photos into a video using Python.

= Second Experimental Attempt: A Follow-Up Slime Mold Study =

== Introduction ==
After completing the first experiment and discussing the results with our lab supervisor, it became clear that the experiment needed to be repeated. The original setup did not produce the expected interaction between the two slime mold species, and the resulting video did not clearly show their growth or encounter.

For the second attempt, I focused on improving both the biological setup and the recording process. Rather than trying to support a specific artistic interpretation, the goal was simply to document the growth of the two slime molds under improved conditions and observe what would happen when they were placed on the same agar plate.

== Recovering the Cultures ==
After the first experiment, both slime mold cultures developed mold contamination and could no longer be used. Our lab supervisor, Mr. Alessandro Volpato, isolated the cultures to help them recover before the experiment could be repeated.

After several days, the cultures were ready to be used again.
[[File:New petri dish getting ready.jpg|thumb|175x175px|slim mold]]

== Preparing the Agar Plates ==
As in the first experiment, I prepared a fresh agar medium by mixing agar-agar with water, heating the mixture until the agar dissolved, and pouring it into clean Petri dishes. After the agar solidified, it was ready for the new cultures.

== Preparing the Colored Food ==
To make the growth easier to observe, I again prepared colored oat flakes.
[[File:Colored red food.jpg|thumb|151x151px]]
I mixed [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|the unknown red pigment]] with water, and oat flakes, and allowed them to absorb the color before using them as food for '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== Growing the New Culture ==
[[File:Ph-w-red-food.jpg|thumb|157x157px]]
A small piece of '''Physarum polycephalum''' was transferred onto a fresh Petri dish together with the colored oat flakes. The culture was left to grow for one day so that it became stronger before the final recording.

== Preparing the Final Recording Setup ==
After the culture had recovered, I prepared another fresh agar plate for the final recording.

Badhamia and '''Physarum polycephalum''' were placed on opposite sides of the Petri dish, with oat flakes positioned between them to encourage both organisms to grow toward the same area.

Unlike the first experiment, I removed the light source underneath the Petri dish after realizing that it caused noticeable flickering. This resulted in much more stable lighting throughout the recording.

== Overnight Recording ==
The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and connected to an external power source so it could record continuously throughout the night.

For this experiment, the camera captured one photograph every '''30 seconds'''. I started the recording in the evening, checked the setup several times during the night to ensure everything was working correctly, and collected the experiment the following morning.

== Creating the Video ==
After transferring the photographs to my computer, I processed the images using the same Python workflow developed during the first experiment.
[[File:Petri dish after two days of growth.jpg|thumb|Petri dish after two days of growth]]
[[File:Final video second try lower quality.mp4|thumb]]
The images were combined into a video, which was then edited by adding titles and music.

== Observations ==
The second experiment produced a different result than expected.

Although both slime molds were placed on the same Petri dish, only '''Physarum polycephalum''' showed significant growth throughout the recording. It expanded across the agar surface and eventually occupied much of the available space, while '''Badhamia''' remained largely inactive.

An interesting observation was that '''Physarum polycephalum''' gradually lost its red coloration as it continued feeding. Because new, uncolored oat flakes were available, the organism slowly returned to its natural yellow appearance during the recording.

As a result, the experiment did not capture the interaction between two actively growing slime molds. Instead, it documented the successful growth of '''Physarum polycephalum''' under the improved experimental conditions.

File:Final video second try lower quality.mp4

2026-07-13T11:37:14Z

Kiana sedighi:

final video second try lower quality

File:Petri dish after two days of growth.jpg

2026-07-13T11:35:21Z

Kiana sedighi:

Petri dish after two days of growth

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-13T11:27:17Z

Kiana sedighi: add picts

= Home for Two: A Slime Mold Coexistence Experiment =

== Introduction ==
For my final DIY BioLab project, I wanted to create an experiment that was both biological and narrative. Instead of only observing the growth of one slime mold, I wanted to place two different slime mold species in the same environment and document what happened when their growing networks approached each other.

The two organisms used in this experiment were '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. At the beginning, both looked very similar because they were yellowish, which made it difficult to visually separate them during observation. Because of this, I later used a red pigment on the food source of one culture to create a visible contrast.

My final goal was to create a video showing the interaction between the two slime molds. I wanted the project to ask a simple question:

'''Can two different living organisms share the same space?'''

== Materials ==
For this experiment I used:

* Badhamia culture
* Physarum polycephalum culture
* Agar-agar
* Water
* Petri dishes
* Oat flakes
* [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|Red pigment / coloring powder]]
* Laboratory glassware
* Spoon
* Tweezers
* Gloves
* Microscope / camera setup
* Canon DSLR camera
* Python
* Video editing software

== Preparing the First Badhamia Culture ==
[[File:Badhamia.jpg|thumb|209x209px|Badhamia]]
At the beginning of the project, I prepared a simple agar medium for the slime mold.

I mixed agar-agar with water, heated it until the agar dissolved, and poured the liquid into a Petri dish. After the agar cooled down and became solid, I transferred '''Badhamia''' from the kit that was ordered for me by our lab supervisor Mr. Volpato.

I placed several oat flakes on the agar as food and left the culture to grow. This first step was mainly about keeping the Badhamia alive and giving it enough time to become stronger before using it in the final experiment.
[[File:Photo 2026-07-05 03-33-07.jpg|thumb|207x207px|'''Badhamia''' kit]]

== Receiving the Second Slime Mold ==
After the Badhamia culture had started growing, I contacted another student and exchanged slime mold cultures with her. I gave her part of my '''Badhamia''' culture, and she gave me '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== The Problem of Visibility ==
[[File:Colored Physarum polycephalum.jpg|thumb|131x131px|Color Physarum polycephalum]]
At first, both cultures were yellowish and visually very similar. This was a problem because once they started growing on the same agar plate, it would be difficult to tell which slime mold was which.
[[File:Food coloring.jpg|thumb|158x158px|P1. Food coloring]]
Because of this, [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|I looked at a previous experiment done by Daria Lukianchuk, who had tested different coloring methods. In her experiment, an unknown red pigment had produced the clearest visible result. I used this information as a practical reference for my own setup.]]

Instead of repeating the full color-testing process, I decided to use the same red pigment to color the food source of one slime mold. This made the two sides easier to distinguish in the final video. Then I prepared the food as she mentioned.
[[File:P2. Food coloring.jpg|thumb|163x163px|P2. Food coloring]]

== Preparing the Final Petri Dish ==
For the final experiment, I prepared new agar plates.
[[File:Preparing the Final Petri Dish.jpg|thumb|163x163px|Preparing the Final Petri Dish]]
I again mixed agar-agar with water, heated the mixture, and poured it into a clean Petri dish. After the agar solidified, I transferred both slime molds onto the same plate.

[[File:Mixfinal.jpg|thumb|197x197px]]
One side contained '''Badhamia''', and the other side contained '''Physarum polycephalum'''. This setup became the central scene of the project: two different organisms, one shared environment.

[[File:Video 2026-07-05 03-18-55.mp4|thumb|Camera Setup]]

== Camera Setup and Recording ==
To document the experiment, I used a fixed camera setup.

The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and under it a power source so that it could record for several hours without interruption. I configured the camera to take one photo every '''10 seconds'''.

This interval was chosen because it created enough frames for a smooth, while still keeping the number of images manageable.

During the recording session, the camera captured thousands of photographs of the slime molds.
== Creating the Video with Python ==
After the recording session, I transferred the images to my computer.

The folder contained both image files and raw camera files, so I used only the JPG images for the final processing. I wrote a Python program to load the images in order, align them, remove problematic outsider frames when necessary, and combine the sequence into a video.<syntaxhighlight lang="python" line="1">
import cv2
import os
import glob
import numpy as np

# SETTINGS
FPS = 30
OUTPUT = "timelapse_aligned.mp4"
IMAGE_EXT = "*.JPG"

# Read JPG files only
files = sorted(glob.glob(IMAGE_EXT))

if not files:
raise Exception("No JPG files found in this folder.")

print(f"Found {len(files)} JPG images")

# Use first image as reference
ref = cv2.imread(files[0])
ref = cv2.resize(ref, (1920, 1080))
ref_gray = cv2.cvtColor(ref, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

h, w = ref.shape[:2]

video = cv2.VideoWriter(
OUTPUT,
cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*"mp4v"),
FPS,
(w, h)
)

last_good = ref.copy()

for i, file in enumerate(files):
img = cv2.imread(file)

if img is None:
print("Skipped unreadable:", file)
continue

# Fix portrait/rotated outsiders automatically
if img.shape[0] > img.shape[1]:
img = cv2.rotate(img, cv2.ROTATE_90_CLOCKWISE)

img = cv2.resize(img, (w, h))
gray = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

# Align image to first image
warp_matrix = np.eye(2, 3, dtype=np.float32)

try:
_, warp_matrix = cv2.findTransformECC(
ref_gray,
gray,
warp_matrix,
cv2.MOTION_EUCLIDEAN,
criteria=(cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_EPS | cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_COUNT, 50, 1e-5)
)

aligned = cv2.warpAffine(
img,
warp_matrix,
(w, h),
flags=cv2.INTER_LINEAR + cv2.WARP_INVERSE_MAP
)

video.write(aligned)
last_good = aligned

except cv2.error:
# If alignment fails, probably outsider / bad photo
print("Skipped outsider or badly rotated image:", file)
continue

if i % 100 == 0:
print(f"Processed {i}/{len(files)}")

video.release()
print("Done:", OUTPUT)
</syntaxhighlight>The final video was created from the image sequence and exported as an MP4 file. After that, I edited the video further by adding an intro, title cards, music, and an ending message.
== Artistic Concept ==
The original concept of the video was '''Home for Two'''. I wanted to present the two slime molds almost like two characters sharing one space:

'''One — Badhamia'''

'''Two — Physarum polycephalum'''

However, after discussing the experiment with our lab supervisor, I realized that my first interpretation was not good. Since both slime molds depend on the same food source, the situation is not simply peaceful coexistence. It is also competition.

In the actual experiment, the two organisms also did not grow as expected. Because of this, the biological part of the project cannot be presented as a successful coexistence experiment. Still, I decided to continue working with the material visually.

For the next attempt, I want to develop the video concept in a more playful direction: not as a peaceful home, but more like a small battlefield, where two organisms compete for space and food.[[File:Home4two.mp4|thumb|Home for Two|0x0px]]

== Conclusion ==
This project started as an attempt to create a poetic slime mold film about two different organisms sharing one space. The idea behind '''Home for Two''' was to connect biological observation with a wider reflection on difference and coexistence.

However, after the experiment and the feedback discussion, I realized that my original question — whether two different living organisms can share the same space — was too broad. Organisms already share ecosystems in many ways, but my video did not actually show '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum''' encountering or interacting with each other.

Because of this, the first experiment cannot answer the question I originally asked. The two slime molds did not grow strongly, and the concept of peaceful coexistence was biologically too simplified. Since both organisms use the same food source, their relationship is more likely to involve competition than harmony.

I now see this project as an unfinished first attempt rather than a successful final experiment. Still, I learned how to prepare agar plates, maintain slime mold cultures, exchange biological material, use colored food as a visual marker, build a setup, and turn thousands of photos into a video using Python.

= Second Experimental Attempt: A Follow-Up Slime Mold Study =

== Introduction ==
After completing the first experiment and discussing the results with our lab supervisor, it became clear that the experiment needed to be repeated. The original setup did not produce the expected interaction between the two slime mold species, and the resulting video did not clearly show their growth or encounter.

For the second attempt, I focused on improving both the biological setup and the recording process. Rather than trying to support a specific artistic interpretation, the goal was simply to document the growth of the two slime molds under improved conditions and observe what would happen when they were placed on the same agar plate.

== Recovering the Cultures ==
After the first experiment, both slime mold cultures developed mold contamination and could no longer be used. Our lab supervisor, Mr. Alessandro Volpato, isolated the cultures to help them recover before the experiment could be repeated.

After several days, the cultures were ready to be used again.
[[File:New petri dish getting ready.jpg|thumb|175x175px|slim mold]]

== Preparing the Agar Plates ==
As in the first experiment, I prepared a fresh agar medium by mixing agar-agar with water, heating the mixture until the agar dissolved, and pouring it into clean Petri dishes. After the agar solidified, it was ready for the new cultures.

== Preparing the Colored Food ==
To make the growth easier to observe, I again prepared colored oat flakes.
[[File:Colored red food.jpg|thumb|151x151px]]
I mixed [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|the unknown red pigment]] with water, and oat flakes, and allowed them to absorb the color before using them as food for '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== Growing the New Culture ==
[[File:Ph-w-red-food.jpg|thumb|157x157px]]
A small piece of '''Physarum polycephalum''' was transferred onto a fresh Petri dish together with the colored oat flakes. The culture was left to grow for one day so that it became stronger before the final recording.

== Preparing the Final Recording Setup ==
After the culture had recovered, I prepared another fresh agar plate for the final recording.

Badhamia and '''Physarum polycephalum''' were placed on opposite sides of the Petri dish, with oat flakes positioned between them to encourage both organisms to grow toward the same area.

Unlike the first experiment, I removed the light source underneath the Petri dish after realizing that it caused noticeable flickering. This resulted in much more stable lighting throughout the recording.

== Overnight Recording ==
The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and connected to an external power source so it could record continuously throughout the night.

For this experiment, the camera captured one photograph every '''30 seconds'''. I started the recording in the evening, checked the setup several times during the night to ensure everything was working correctly, and collected the experiment the following morning.

== Creating the Video ==
After transferring the photographs to my computer, I processed the images using the same Python workflow developed during the first experiment.

The images were combined into a video, which was then edited by adding titles and music.

== Observations ==
The second experiment produced a different result than expected.

Although both slime molds were placed on the same Petri dish, only '''Physarum polycephalum''' showed significant growth throughout the recording. It expanded across the agar surface and eventually occupied much of the available space, while '''Badhamia''' remained largely inactive.

An interesting observation was that '''Physarum polycephalum''' gradually lost its red coloration as it continued feeding. Because new, uncolored oat flakes were available, the organism slowly returned to its natural yellow appearance during the recording.

As a result, the experiment did not capture the interaction between two actively growing slime molds. Instead, it documented the successful growth of '''Physarum polycephalum''' under the improved experimental conditions.

File:Ph-w-red-food.jpg

2026-07-13T10:36:03Z

Kiana sedighi:

ph-w-red-food

File:Colored red food.jpg

2026-07-13T10:34:26Z

Kiana sedighi:

colored red food

File:New petri dish getting ready.jpg

2026-07-13T10:26:47Z

Kiana sedighi:

slim mold for new coloring

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-13T10:23:51Z

Kiana sedighi: rewrite second part

= Home for Two: A Slime Mold Coexistence Experiment =

== Introduction ==
For my final DIY BioLab project, I wanted to create an experiment that was both biological and narrative. Instead of only observing the growth of one slime mold, I wanted to place two different slime mold species in the same environment and document what happened when their growing networks approached each other.

The two organisms used in this experiment were '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. At the beginning, both looked very similar because they were yellowish, which made it difficult to visually separate them during observation. Because of this, I later used a red pigment on the food source of one culture to create a visible contrast.

My final goal was to create a time-lapse video showing the interaction between the two slime molds. I wanted the project to ask a simple question:

'''Can two different living organisms share the same space?'''

== Materials ==
For this experiment I used:

* Badhamia culture
* Physarum polycephalum culture
* Agar-agar
* Water
* Petri dishes
* Oat flakes
* [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|Red pigment / coloring powder]]
* Laboratory glassware
* Spoon
* Tweezers
* Gloves
* Microscope / camera setup
* Canon DSLR camera
* Python
* Video editing software

== Preparing the First Badhamia Culture ==
[[File:Badhamia.jpg|thumb|209x209px|Badhamia]]
At the beginning of the project, I prepared a simple agar medium for the slime mold.

I mixed agar-agar with water, heated it until the agar dissolved, and poured the liquid into a Petri dish. After the agar cooled down and became solid, I transferred '''Badhamia''' from the kit that was ordered for me by our lab supervisor Mr. Volpato.

I placed several oat flakes on the agar as food and left the culture to grow. This first step was mainly about keeping the Badhamia alive and giving it enough time to become stronger before using it in the final experiment.
[[File:Photo 2026-07-05 03-33-07.jpg|thumb|207x207px|'''Badhamia''' kit]]

== Receiving the Second Slime Mold ==
After the Badhamia culture had started growing, I contacted another student and exchanged slime mold cultures with her. I gave her part of my '''Badhamia''' culture, and she gave me '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== The Problem of Visibility ==
[[File:Colored Physarum polycephalum.jpg|thumb|131x131px|Color Physarum polycephalum]]
At first, both cultures were yellowish and visually very similar. This was a problem because once they started growing on the same agar plate, it would be difficult to tell which slime mold was which.
[[File:Food coloring.jpg|thumb|158x158px|P1. Food coloring]]
Because of this, [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|I looked at a previous experiment done by Daria Lukianchuk, who had tested different coloring methods. In her experiment, an unknown red pigment had produced the clearest visible result. I used this information as a practical reference for my own setup.]]

Instead of repeating the full color-testing process, I decided to use the same red pigment to color the food source of one slime mold. This made the two sides easier to distinguish in the final video. Then I prepared the food as she mentioned.
[[File:P2. Food coloring.jpg|thumb|163x163px|P2. Food coloring]]

== Preparing the Final Petri Dish ==
For the final experiment, I prepared new agar plates.
[[File:Preparing the Final Petri Dish.jpg|thumb|163x163px|Preparing the Final Petri Dish]]
I again mixed agar-agar with water, heated the mixture, and poured it into a clean Petri dish. After the agar solidified, I transferred both slime molds onto the same plate.

[[File:Mixfinal.jpg|thumb|197x197px]]
One side contained '''Badhamia''', and the other side contained '''Physarum polycephalum'''. This setup became the central scene of the project: two different organisms, one shared environment.

[[File:Video 2026-07-05 03-18-55.mp4|thumb|Camera Setup and Time-Lapse Recording]]

== Camera Setup and Time-Lapse Recording ==
To document the experiment, I used a fixed camera setup.

The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and under it a power source so that it could record for several hours without interruption. I configured the camera to take one photo every '''10 seconds'''.

This interval was chosen because it created enough frames for a smooth time-lapse, while still keeping the number of images manageable.

During the recording session, the camera captured thousands of photographs of the slime molds.
== Creating the Video with Python ==
After the recording session, I transferred the images to my computer.

The folder contained both image files and raw camera files, so I used only the JPG images for the final processing. I wrote a Python program to load the images in order, align them, remove problematic outsider frames when necessary, and combine the sequence into a video.<syntaxhighlight lang="python" line="1">
import cv2
import os
import glob
import numpy as np

# SETTINGS
FPS = 30
OUTPUT = "timelapse_aligned.mp4"
IMAGE_EXT = "*.JPG"

# Read JPG files only
files = sorted(glob.glob(IMAGE_EXT))

if not files:
raise Exception("No JPG files found in this folder.")

print(f"Found {len(files)} JPG images")

# Use first image as reference
ref = cv2.imread(files[0])
ref = cv2.resize(ref, (1920, 1080))
ref_gray = cv2.cvtColor(ref, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

h, w = ref.shape[:2]

video = cv2.VideoWriter(
OUTPUT,
cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*"mp4v"),
FPS,
(w, h)
)

last_good = ref.copy()

for i, file in enumerate(files):
img = cv2.imread(file)

if img is None:
print("Skipped unreadable:", file)
continue

# Fix portrait/rotated outsiders automatically
if img.shape[0] > img.shape[1]:
img = cv2.rotate(img, cv2.ROTATE_90_CLOCKWISE)

img = cv2.resize(img, (w, h))
gray = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

# Align image to first image
warp_matrix = np.eye(2, 3, dtype=np.float32)

try:
_, warp_matrix = cv2.findTransformECC(
ref_gray,
gray,
warp_matrix,
cv2.MOTION_EUCLIDEAN,
criteria=(cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_EPS | cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_COUNT, 50, 1e-5)
)

aligned = cv2.warpAffine(
img,
warp_matrix,
(w, h),
flags=cv2.INTER_LINEAR + cv2.WARP_INVERSE_MAP
)

video.write(aligned)
last_good = aligned

except cv2.error:
# If alignment fails, probably outsider / bad photo
print("Skipped outsider or badly rotated image:", file)
continue

if i % 100 == 0:
print(f"Processed {i}/{len(files)}")

video.release()
print("Done:", OUTPUT)
</syntaxhighlight>The final time-lapse was created from the image sequence and exported as an MP4 file. After that, I edited the video further by adding an intro, title cards, music, and an ending message.
== Artistic Concept ==
The original concept of the video was '''Home for Two'''. I wanted to present the two slime molds almost like two characters sharing one space:

'''One — Badhamia'''

'''Two — Physarum polycephalum'''

However, after discussing the experiment with our lab supervisor, I realized that my first interpretation was not good. Since both slime molds depend on the same food source, the situation is not simply peaceful coexistence. It is also competition.

In the actual experiment, the two organisms also did not grow as expected. Because of this, the biological part of the project cannot be presented as a successful coexistence experiment. Still, I decided to continue working with the material visually.

For the next attempt, I want to develop the video concept in a more playful direction: not as a peaceful home, but more like a small battlefield, where two organisms compete for space and food.[[File:Home4two.mp4|thumb|Home for Two|0x0px]]

== Conclusion ==
This project started as an attempt to create a poetic slime mold film about two different organisms sharing one space. The idea behind '''Home for Two''' was to connect biological observation with a wider reflection on difference and coexistence.

However, after the experiment and the feedback discussion, I realized that my original question — whether two different living organisms can share the same space — was too broad. Organisms already share ecosystems in many ways, but my video did not actually show '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum''' encountering or interacting with each other.

Because of this, the first experiment cannot answer the question I originally asked. The two slime molds did not grow strongly, and the concept of peaceful coexistence was biologically too simplified. Since both organisms use the same food source, their relationship is more likely to involve competition than harmony.

I now see this project as an unfinished first attempt rather than a successful final experiment. Still, I learned how to prepare agar plates, maintain slime mold cultures, exchange biological material, use colored food as a visual marker, build a time-lapse setup, and turn thousands of photos into a video using Python.

= Second Experimental Attempt: A Follow-Up Slime Mold Study =

== Introduction ==
After completing the first experiment and discussing the results with our lab supervisor, it became clear that the experiment needed to be repeated. The original setup did not produce the expected interaction between the two slime mold species, and the resulting video did not clearly show their growth or encounter.

For the second attempt, I focused on improving both the biological setup and the recording process. Rather than trying to support a specific artistic interpretation, the goal was simply to document the growth of the two slime molds under improved conditions and observe what would happen when they were placed on the same agar plate.

== Recovering the Cultures ==
After the first experiment, both slime mold cultures developed mold contamination and could no longer be used. Our lab supervisor, Mr. Alessandro Volpato, isolated the cultures to help them recover before the experiment could be repeated.

After several days, the cultures were ready to be used again.

== Preparing the Agar Plates ==
As in the first experiment, I prepared a fresh agar medium by mixing agar-agar with water, heating the mixture until the agar dissolved, and pouring it into clean Petri dishes. After the agar solidified, it was ready for the new cultures.

== Preparing the Colored Food ==
To make the growth easier to observe, I again prepared colored oat flakes.

I mixed the red pigment with water, added oat flakes, and allowed them to absorb the color before using them as food for '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== Growing the New Culture ==
A small piece of '''Physarum polycephalum''' was transferred onto a fresh Petri dish together with the colored oat flakes. The culture was left to grow for approximately one day so that it became stronger before the final recording.

== Preparing the Final Recording Setup ==
After the culture had recovered, I prepared another fresh agar plate for the final recording.

Badhamia and '''Physarum polycephalum''' were placed on opposite sides of the Petri dish, with oat flakes positioned between them to encourage both organisms to grow toward the same area.

Unlike the first experiment, I removed the light source underneath the Petri dish after realizing that it caused noticeable flickering in the time-lapse. This resulted in much more stable lighting throughout the recording.

== Overnight Time-Lapse Recording ==
The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and connected to an external power source so it could record continuously throughout the night.

For this experiment, the camera captured one photograph every '''30 seconds'''. I started the recording in the evening, checked the setup several times during the night to ensure everything was working correctly, and collected the experiment the following morning.

== Creating the Video ==
After transferring the photographs to my computer, I processed the images using the same Python workflow developed during the first experiment.

The images were combined into a time-lapse video, which was then edited by adding titles and music.

== Observations ==
The second experiment produced a different result than expected.

Although both slime molds were placed on the same Petri dish, only '''Physarum polycephalum''' showed significant growth throughout the recording. It expanded across the agar surface and eventually occupied much of the available space, while '''Badhamia''' remained largely inactive.

An interesting observation was that '''Physarum polycephalum''' gradually lost its red coloration as it continued feeding. Because new, uncolored oat flakes were available, the organism slowly returned to its natural yellow appearance during the recording.

As a result, the experiment did not capture the interaction between two actively growing slime molds. Instead, it documented the successful growth of '''Physarum polycephalum''' under the improved experimental conditions.

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-06T21:16:56Z

Kiana sedighi: research Q

= Home for Two: A Slime Mold Coexistence Experiment =

== Introduction ==
For my final DIY BioLab project, I wanted to create an experiment that was both biological and narrative. Instead of only observing the growth of one slime mold, I wanted to place two different slime mold species in the same environment and document what happened when their growing networks approached each other.

The two organisms used in this experiment were '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. At the beginning, both looked very similar because they were yellowish, which made it difficult to visually separate them during observation. Because of this, I later used a red pigment on the food source of one culture to create a visible contrast.

My final goal was to create a time-lapse video showing the interaction between the two slime molds. I wanted the project to ask a simple question:

'''Can two different living organisms share the same space?'''

== Materials ==
For this experiment I used:

* Badhamia culture
* Physarum polycephalum culture
* Agar-agar
* Water
* Petri dishes
* Oat flakes
* [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|Red pigment / coloring powder]]
* Laboratory glassware
* Spoon
* Tweezers
* Gloves
* Microscope / camera setup
* Canon DSLR camera
* Python
* Video editing software

== Preparing the First Badhamia Culture ==
[[File:Badhamia.jpg|thumb|209x209px|Badhamia]]
At the beginning of the project, I prepared a simple agar medium for the slime mold.

I mixed agar-agar with water, heated it until the agar dissolved, and poured the liquid into a Petri dish. After the agar cooled down and became solid, I transferred '''Badhamia''' from the kit that was ordered for me by our lab supervisor Mr. Volpato.

I placed several oat flakes on the agar as food and left the culture to grow. This first step was mainly about keeping the Badhamia alive and giving it enough time to become stronger before using it in the final experiment.
[[File:Photo 2026-07-05 03-33-07.jpg|thumb|207x207px|'''Badhamia''' kit]]

== Receiving the Second Slime Mold ==
After the Badhamia culture had started growing, I contacted another student and exchanged slime mold cultures with her. I gave her part of my '''Badhamia''' culture, and she gave me '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== The Problem of Visibility ==
[[File:Colored Physarum polycephalum.jpg|thumb|131x131px|Color Physarum polycephalum]]
At first, both cultures were yellowish and visually very similar. This was a problem because once they started growing on the same agar plate, it would be difficult to tell which slime mold was which.
[[File:Food coloring.jpg|thumb|158x158px|P1. Food coloring]]
Because of this, [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|I looked at a previous experiment done by Daria Lukianchuk, who had tested different coloring methods. In her experiment, an unknown red pigment had produced the clearest visible result. I used this information as a practical reference for my own setup.]]

Instead of repeating the full color-testing process, I decided to use the same red pigment to color the food source of one slime mold. This made the two sides easier to distinguish in the final video. Then I prepared the food as she mentioned.
[[File:P2. Food coloring.jpg|thumb|163x163px|P2. Food coloring]]

== Preparing the Final Petri Dish ==
For the final experiment, I prepared new agar plates.
[[File:Preparing the Final Petri Dish.jpg|thumb|163x163px|Preparing the Final Petri Dish]]
I again mixed agar-agar with water, heated the mixture, and poured it into a clean Petri dish. After the agar solidified, I transferred both slime molds onto the same plate.

[[File:Mixfinal.jpg|thumb|197x197px]]
One side contained '''Badhamia''', and the other side contained '''Physarum polycephalum'''. This setup became the central scene of the project: two different organisms, one shared environment.

[[File:Video 2026-07-05 03-18-55.mp4|thumb|Camera Setup and Time-Lapse Recording]]

== Camera Setup and Time-Lapse Recording ==
To document the experiment, I used a fixed camera setup.

The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and under it a power source so that it could record for several hours without interruption. I configured the camera to take one photo every '''10 seconds'''.

This interval was chosen because it created enough frames for a smooth time-lapse, while still keeping the number of images manageable.

During the recording session, the camera captured thousands of photographs of the slime molds.
== Creating the Video with Python ==
After the recording session, I transferred the images to my computer.

The folder contained both image files and raw camera files, so I used only the JPG images for the final processing. I wrote a Python program to load the images in order, align them, remove problematic outsider frames when necessary, and combine the sequence into a video.<syntaxhighlight lang="python" line="1">
import cv2
import os
import glob
import numpy as np

# SETTINGS
FPS = 30
OUTPUT = "timelapse_aligned.mp4"
IMAGE_EXT = "*.JPG"

# Read JPG files only
files = sorted(glob.glob(IMAGE_EXT))

if not files:
raise Exception("No JPG files found in this folder.")

print(f"Found {len(files)} JPG images")

# Use first image as reference
ref = cv2.imread(files[0])
ref = cv2.resize(ref, (1920, 1080))
ref_gray = cv2.cvtColor(ref, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

h, w = ref.shape[:2]

video = cv2.VideoWriter(
OUTPUT,
cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*"mp4v"),
FPS,
(w, h)
)

last_good = ref.copy()

for i, file in enumerate(files):
img = cv2.imread(file)

if img is None:
print("Skipped unreadable:", file)
continue

# Fix portrait/rotated outsiders automatically
if img.shape[0] > img.shape[1]:
img = cv2.rotate(img, cv2.ROTATE_90_CLOCKWISE)

img = cv2.resize(img, (w, h))
gray = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

# Align image to first image
warp_matrix = np.eye(2, 3, dtype=np.float32)

try:
_, warp_matrix = cv2.findTransformECC(
ref_gray,
gray,
warp_matrix,
cv2.MOTION_EUCLIDEAN,
criteria=(cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_EPS | cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_COUNT, 50, 1e-5)
)

aligned = cv2.warpAffine(
img,
warp_matrix,
(w, h),
flags=cv2.INTER_LINEAR + cv2.WARP_INVERSE_MAP
)

video.write(aligned)
last_good = aligned

except cv2.error:
# If alignment fails, probably outsider / bad photo
print("Skipped outsider or badly rotated image:", file)
continue

if i % 100 == 0:
print(f"Processed {i}/{len(files)}")

video.release()
print("Done:", OUTPUT)
</syntaxhighlight>The final time-lapse was created from the image sequence and exported as an MP4 file. After that, I edited the video further by adding an intro, title cards, music, and an ending message.
== Artistic Concept ==
The original concept of the video was '''Home for Two'''. I wanted to present the two slime molds almost like two characters sharing one space:

'''One — Badhamia'''

'''Two — Physarum polycephalum'''

However, after discussing the experiment with our lab supervisor, I realized that my first interpretation was not good. Since both slime molds depend on the same food source, the situation is not simply peaceful coexistence. It is also competition.

In the actual experiment, the two organisms also did not grow as expected. Because of this, the biological part of the project cannot be presented as a successful coexistence experiment. Still, I decided to continue working with the material visually.

For the next attempt, I want to develop the video concept in a more playful direction: not as a peaceful home, but more like a small battlefield, where two organisms compete for space and food.[[File:Home4two.mp4|thumb|Home for Two|0x0px]]

== Conclusion ==
This project started as an attempt to create a poetic slime mold film about two different organisms sharing one space. The idea behind '''Home for Two''' was to connect biological observation with a wider reflection on difference and coexistence.

However, after the experiment and the feedback discussion, I realized that my original question — whether two different living organisms can share the same space — was too broad. Organisms already share ecosystems in many ways, but my video did not actually show '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum''' encountering or interacting with each other.

Because of this, the first experiment cannot answer the question I originally asked. The two slime molds did not grow strongly, and the concept of peaceful coexistence was biologically too simplified. Since both organisms use the same food source, their relationship is more likely to involve competition than harmony.

I now see this project as an unfinished first attempt rather than a successful final experiment. Still, I learned how to prepare agar plates, maintain slime mold cultures, exchange biological material, use colored food as a visual marker, build a time-lapse setup, and turn thousands of photos into a video using Python.

For the next version, I want to repeat the experiment with a stronger setup and a more precise question: '''what happens when Badhamia and Physarum polycephalum grow toward the same food source and compete for space?'''

= '''The Agar Arena: A Slime Mold Competition Experiment''' =

= Introduction =
For the second stage of this project, I wanted to explore the interaction between two slime mold species under shared environmental conditions. Instead of focusing on coexistence, this experiment investigates how two organisms respond when they compete for the same resources.

The two species used are '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. Both are plasmodial slime molds that forage by expanding dynamic networks toward food sources. Because they rely on similar nutrients, placing them in the same Petri dish creates a situation in which their growth patterns and interactions can be directly observed.

As in the first experiment, one food source was colored with red pigment to make the two organisms easier to distinguish during time-lapse recording.

The experiment was documented using automated photography. The resulting image sequence will be processed into a time-lapse film, allowing the interaction between the two slime molds to be observed over time.

Rather than asking whether the organisms can peacefully share a habitat, this experiment asks a different question:

'''What happens when Badhamia and Physarum polycephalum grow toward the same food source and compete for space?'''

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-06T21:15:47Z

Kiana sedighi: changed conclusion

= Home for Two: A Slime Mold Coexistence Experiment =

== Introduction ==
For my final DIY BioLab project, I wanted to create an experiment that was both biological and narrative. Instead of only observing the growth of one slime mold, I wanted to place two different slime mold species in the same environment and document what happened when their growing networks approached each other.

The two organisms used in this experiment were '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. At the beginning, both looked very similar because they were yellowish, which made it difficult to visually separate them during observation. Because of this, I later used a red pigment on the food source of one culture to create a visible contrast.

My final goal was to create a time-lapse video showing the interaction between the two slime molds. I wanted the project to ask a simple question:

'''Can two different living organisms share the same space?'''

== Materials ==
For this experiment I used:

* Badhamia culture
* Physarum polycephalum culture
* Agar-agar
* Water
* Petri dishes
* Oat flakes
* [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|Red pigment / coloring powder]]
* Laboratory glassware
* Spoon
* Tweezers
* Gloves
* Microscope / camera setup
* Canon DSLR camera
* Python
* Video editing software

== Preparing the First Badhamia Culture ==
[[File:Badhamia.jpg|thumb|209x209px|Badhamia]]
At the beginning of the project, I prepared a simple agar medium for the slime mold.

I mixed agar-agar with water, heated it until the agar dissolved, and poured the liquid into a Petri dish. After the agar cooled down and became solid, I transferred '''Badhamia''' from the kit that was ordered for me by our lab supervisor Mr. Volpato.

I placed several oat flakes on the agar as food and left the culture to grow. This first step was mainly about keeping the Badhamia alive and giving it enough time to become stronger before using it in the final experiment.
[[File:Photo 2026-07-05 03-33-07.jpg|thumb|207x207px|'''Badhamia''' kit]]

== Receiving the Second Slime Mold ==
After the Badhamia culture had started growing, I contacted another student and exchanged slime mold cultures with her. I gave her part of my '''Badhamia''' culture, and she gave me '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== The Problem of Visibility ==
[[File:Colored Physarum polycephalum.jpg|thumb|131x131px|Color Physarum polycephalum]]
At first, both cultures were yellowish and visually very similar. This was a problem because once they started growing on the same agar plate, it would be difficult to tell which slime mold was which.
[[File:Food coloring.jpg|thumb|158x158px|P1. Food coloring]]
Because of this, [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|I looked at a previous experiment done by Daria Lukianchuk, who had tested different coloring methods. In her experiment, an unknown red pigment had produced the clearest visible result. I used this information as a practical reference for my own setup.]]

Instead of repeating the full color-testing process, I decided to use the same red pigment to color the food source of one slime mold. This made the two sides easier to distinguish in the final video. Then I prepared the food as she mentioned.
[[File:P2. Food coloring.jpg|thumb|163x163px|P2. Food coloring]]

== Preparing the Final Petri Dish ==
For the final experiment, I prepared new agar plates.
[[File:Preparing the Final Petri Dish.jpg|thumb|163x163px|Preparing the Final Petri Dish]]
I again mixed agar-agar with water, heated the mixture, and poured it into a clean Petri dish. After the agar solidified, I transferred both slime molds onto the same plate.

[[File:Mixfinal.jpg|thumb|197x197px]]
One side contained '''Badhamia''', and the other side contained '''Physarum polycephalum'''. This setup became the central scene of the project: two different organisms, one shared environment.

[[File:Video 2026-07-05 03-18-55.mp4|thumb|Camera Setup and Time-Lapse Recording]]

== Camera Setup and Time-Lapse Recording ==
To document the experiment, I used a fixed camera setup.

The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and under it a power source so that it could record for several hours without interruption. I configured the camera to take one photo every '''10 seconds'''.

This interval was chosen because it created enough frames for a smooth time-lapse, while still keeping the number of images manageable.

During the recording session, the camera captured thousands of photographs of the slime molds.
== Creating the Video with Python ==
After the recording session, I transferred the images to my computer.

The folder contained both image files and raw camera files, so I used only the JPG images for the final processing. I wrote a Python program to load the images in order, align them, remove problematic outsider frames when necessary, and combine the sequence into a video.<syntaxhighlight lang="python" line="1">
import cv2
import os
import glob
import numpy as np

# SETTINGS
FPS = 30
OUTPUT = "timelapse_aligned.mp4"
IMAGE_EXT = "*.JPG"

# Read JPG files only
files = sorted(glob.glob(IMAGE_EXT))

if not files:
raise Exception("No JPG files found in this folder.")

print(f"Found {len(files)} JPG images")

# Use first image as reference
ref = cv2.imread(files[0])
ref = cv2.resize(ref, (1920, 1080))
ref_gray = cv2.cvtColor(ref, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

h, w = ref.shape[:2]

video = cv2.VideoWriter(
OUTPUT,
cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*"mp4v"),
FPS,
(w, h)
)

last_good = ref.copy()

for i, file in enumerate(files):
img = cv2.imread(file)

if img is None:
print("Skipped unreadable:", file)
continue

# Fix portrait/rotated outsiders automatically
if img.shape[0] > img.shape[1]:
img = cv2.rotate(img, cv2.ROTATE_90_CLOCKWISE)

img = cv2.resize(img, (w, h))
gray = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

# Align image to first image
warp_matrix = np.eye(2, 3, dtype=np.float32)

try:
_, warp_matrix = cv2.findTransformECC(
ref_gray,
gray,
warp_matrix,
cv2.MOTION_EUCLIDEAN,
criteria=(cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_EPS | cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_COUNT, 50, 1e-5)
)

aligned = cv2.warpAffine(
img,
warp_matrix,
(w, h),
flags=cv2.INTER_LINEAR + cv2.WARP_INVERSE_MAP
)

video.write(aligned)
last_good = aligned

except cv2.error:
# If alignment fails, probably outsider / bad photo
print("Skipped outsider or badly rotated image:", file)
continue

if i % 100 == 0:
print(f"Processed {i}/{len(files)}")

video.release()
print("Done:", OUTPUT)
</syntaxhighlight>The final time-lapse was created from the image sequence and exported as an MP4 file. After that, I edited the video further by adding an intro, title cards, music, and an ending message.
== Artistic Concept ==
The original concept of the video was '''Home for Two'''. I wanted to present the two slime molds almost like two characters sharing one space:

'''One — Badhamia'''

'''Two — Physarum polycephalum'''

However, after discussing the experiment with our lab supervisor, I realized that my first interpretation was not good. Since both slime molds depend on the same food source, the situation is not simply peaceful coexistence. It is also competition.

In the actual experiment, the two organisms also did not grow as expected. Because of this, the biological part of the project cannot be presented as a successful coexistence experiment. Still, I decided to continue working with the material visually.

For the next attempt, I want to develop the video concept in a more playful direction: not as a peaceful home, but more like a small battlefield, where two organisms compete for space and food.[[File:Home4two.mp4|thumb|Home for Two|0x0px]]

== Conclusion ==
This project started as an attempt to create a poetic slime mold film about two different organisms sharing one space. The idea behind '''Home for Two''' was to connect biological observation with a wider reflection on difference and coexistence.

However, after the experiment and the feedback discussion, I realized that my original question — whether two different living organisms can share the same space — was too broad. Organisms already share ecosystems in many ways, but my video did not actually show '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum''' encountering or interacting with each other.

Because of this, the first experiment cannot answer the question I originally asked. The two slime molds did not grow strongly, and the concept of peaceful coexistence was biologically too simplified. Since both organisms use the same food source, their relationship is more likely to involve competition than harmony.

I now see this project as an unfinished first attempt rather than a successful final experiment. Still, I learned how to prepare agar plates, maintain slime mold cultures, exchange biological material, use colored food as a visual marker, build a time-lapse setup, and turn thousands of photos into a video using Python.

For the next version, I want to repeat the experiment with a stronger setup and a more precise question: '''what happens when Badhamia and Physarum polycephalum grow toward the same food source and compete for space?'''

= '''The Agar Arena: A Slime Mold Competition Experiment''' =

= Introduction =
For the second stage of this project, I wanted to explore the interaction between two slime mold species under shared environmental conditions. Instead of focusing on coexistence, this experiment investigates how two organisms respond when they compete for the same resources.

The two species used are '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. Both are plasmodial slime molds that forage by expanding dynamic networks toward food sources. Because they rely on similar nutrients, placing them in the same Petri dish creates a situation in which their growth patterns and interactions can be directly observed.

As in the first experiment, one food source was colored with red pigment to make the two organisms easier to distinguish during time-lapse recording.

The experiment was documented using automated photography. The resulting image sequence will be processed into a time-lapse film, allowing the interaction between the two slime molds to be observed over time.

Rather than asking whether the organisms can peacefully share a habitat, this experiment asks a different question:

'''How do two slime molds behave when they compete for the same space and food?'''

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-06T20:21:13Z

Kiana sedighi: second try

= Home for Two: A Slime Mold Coexistence Experiment =

== Introduction ==
For my final DIY BioLab project, I wanted to create an experiment that was both biological and narrative. Instead of only observing the growth of one slime mold, I wanted to place two different slime mold species in the same environment and document what happened when their growing networks approached each other.

The two organisms used in this experiment were '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. At the beginning, both looked very similar because they were yellowish, which made it difficult to visually separate them during observation. Because of this, I later used a red pigment on the food source of one culture to create a visible contrast.

My final goal was to create a time-lapse video showing the interaction between the two slime molds. I wanted the project to ask a simple question:

'''Can two different living organisms share the same space?'''

== Materials ==
For this experiment I used:

* Badhamia culture
* Physarum polycephalum culture
* Agar-agar
* Water
* Petri dishes
* Oat flakes
* [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|Red pigment / coloring powder]]
* Laboratory glassware
* Spoon
* Tweezers
* Gloves
* Microscope / camera setup
* Canon DSLR camera
* Python
* Video editing software

== Preparing the First Badhamia Culture ==
[[File:Badhamia.jpg|thumb|209x209px|Badhamia]]
At the beginning of the project, I prepared a simple agar medium for the slime mold.

I mixed agar-agar with water, heated it until the agar dissolved, and poured the liquid into a Petri dish. After the agar cooled down and became solid, I transferred '''Badhamia''' from the kit that was ordered for me by our lab supervisor Mr. Volpato.

I placed several oat flakes on the agar as food and left the culture to grow. This first step was mainly about keeping the Badhamia alive and giving it enough time to become stronger before using it in the final experiment.
[[File:Photo 2026-07-05 03-33-07.jpg|thumb|207x207px|'''Badhamia''' kit]]

== Receiving the Second Slime Mold ==
After the Badhamia culture had started growing, I contacted another student and exchanged slime mold cultures with her. I gave her part of my '''Badhamia''' culture, and she gave me '''Physarum polycephalum'''.

== The Problem of Visibility ==
[[File:Colored Physarum polycephalum.jpg|thumb|131x131px|Color Physarum polycephalum]]
At first, both cultures were yellowish and visually very similar. This was a problem because once they started growing on the same agar plate, it would be difficult to tell which slime mold was which.
[[File:Food coloring.jpg|thumb|158x158px|P1. Food coloring]]
Because of this, [[GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26/Daria Lukianchuk|I looked at a previous experiment done by Daria Lukianchuk, who had tested different coloring methods. In her experiment, an unknown red pigment had produced the clearest visible result. I used this information as a practical reference for my own setup.]]

Instead of repeating the full color-testing process, I decided to use the same red pigment to color the food source of one slime mold. This made the two sides easier to distinguish in the final video. Then I prepared the food as she mentioned.
[[File:P2. Food coloring.jpg|thumb|163x163px|P2. Food coloring]]

== Preparing the Final Petri Dish ==
For the final experiment, I prepared new agar plates.
[[File:Preparing the Final Petri Dish.jpg|thumb|163x163px|Preparing the Final Petri Dish]]
I again mixed agar-agar with water, heated the mixture, and poured it into a clean Petri dish. After the agar solidified, I transferred both slime molds onto the same plate.

[[File:Mixfinal.jpg|thumb|197x197px]]
One side contained '''Badhamia''', and the other side contained '''Physarum polycephalum'''. This setup became the central scene of the project: two different organisms, one shared environment.

[[File:Video 2026-07-05 03-18-55.mp4|thumb|Camera Setup and Time-Lapse Recording]]

== Camera Setup and Time-Lapse Recording ==
To document the experiment, I used a fixed camera setup.

The camera was mounted above the Petri dish and under it a power source so that it could record for several hours without interruption. I configured the camera to take one photo every '''10 seconds'''.

This interval was chosen because it created enough frames for a smooth time-lapse, while still keeping the number of images manageable.

During the recording session, the camera captured thousands of photographs of the slime molds.
== Creating the Video with Python ==
After the recording session, I transferred the images to my computer.

The folder contained both image files and raw camera files, so I used only the JPG images for the final processing. I wrote a Python program to load the images in order, align them, remove problematic outsider frames when necessary, and combine the sequence into a video.<syntaxhighlight lang="python" line="1">
import cv2
import os
import glob
import numpy as np

# SETTINGS
FPS = 30
OUTPUT = "timelapse_aligned.mp4"
IMAGE_EXT = "*.JPG"

# Read JPG files only
files = sorted(glob.glob(IMAGE_EXT))

if not files:
raise Exception("No JPG files found in this folder.")

print(f"Found {len(files)} JPG images")

# Use first image as reference
ref = cv2.imread(files[0])
ref = cv2.resize(ref, (1920, 1080))
ref_gray = cv2.cvtColor(ref, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

h, w = ref.shape[:2]

video = cv2.VideoWriter(
OUTPUT,
cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*"mp4v"),
FPS,
(w, h)
)

last_good = ref.copy()

for i, file in enumerate(files):
img = cv2.imread(file)

if img is None:
print("Skipped unreadable:", file)
continue

# Fix portrait/rotated outsiders automatically
if img.shape[0] > img.shape[1]:
img = cv2.rotate(img, cv2.ROTATE_90_CLOCKWISE)

img = cv2.resize(img, (w, h))
gray = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

# Align image to first image
warp_matrix = np.eye(2, 3, dtype=np.float32)

try:
_, warp_matrix = cv2.findTransformECC(
ref_gray,
gray,
warp_matrix,
cv2.MOTION_EUCLIDEAN,
criteria=(cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_EPS | cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_COUNT, 50, 1e-5)
)

aligned = cv2.warpAffine(
img,
warp_matrix,
(w, h),
flags=cv2.INTER_LINEAR + cv2.WARP_INVERSE_MAP
)

video.write(aligned)
last_good = aligned

except cv2.error:
# If alignment fails, probably outsider / bad photo
print("Skipped outsider or badly rotated image:", file)
continue

if i % 100 == 0:
print(f"Processed {i}/{len(files)}")

video.release()
print("Done:", OUTPUT)
</syntaxhighlight>The final time-lapse was created from the image sequence and exported as an MP4 file. After that, I edited the video further by adding an intro, title cards, music, and an ending message.
== Artistic Concept ==
The original concept of the video was '''Home for Two'''. I wanted to present the two slime molds almost like two characters sharing one space:

'''One — Badhamia'''

'''Two — Physarum polycephalum'''

However, after discussing the experiment with our lab supervisor, I realized that my first interpretation was not good. Since both slime molds depend on the same food source, the situation is not simply peaceful coexistence. It is also competition.

In the actual experiment, the two organisms also did not grow as expected. Because of this, the biological part of the project cannot be presented as a successful coexistence experiment. Still, I decided to continue working with the material visually.

For the next attempt, I want to develop the video concept in a more playful direction: not as a peaceful home, but more like a small battlefield, where two organisms compete for space and food.[[File:Home4two.mp4|thumb|Home for Two|0x0px]]

== Conclusion ==
This project started as an attempt to create a poetic slime mold film about two different organisms sharing one space. The idea behind '''Home for Two''' was to connect biological observation with a wider reflection on difference and coexistence.

However, the experiment did not work in the way I expected. The two slime molds did not grow strongly, and after feedback from our lab supervisor, I understood that the concept of peaceful coexistence was biologically too simplified. Since both organisms use the same food source, their relationship is more competitive than harmonious.

Because of this, I now see the project as an unfinished first attempt rather than a successful final experiment. I still learned how to prepare agar plates, maintain slime mold cultures, exchange biological material, use colored food as a visual marker, build a time-lapse setup, and turn thousands of photos into a video using Python.

For the next version, I want to repeat the experiment with a stronger setup and change the artistic direction. Instead of presenting the slime molds as peacefully living together, I want to show them in a more playful and dramatic way: as two organisms entering the same arena, competing for food and space.

The failure of the first experiment therefore becomes part of the project. It shows how an artistic idea can meet biological limits, and how the concept can evolve after understanding what actually happens.

= '''The Agar Arena: A Slime Mold Competition Experiment''' =

= Introduction =
For the second stage of this project, I wanted to explore the interaction between two slime mold species under shared environmental conditions. Instead of focusing on coexistence, this experiment investigates how two organisms respond when they compete for the same resources.

The two species used are '''Badhamia''' and '''Physarum polycephalum'''. Both are plasmodial slime molds that forage by expanding dynamic networks toward food sources. Because they rely on similar nutrients, placing them in the same Petri dish creates a situation in which their growth patterns and interactions can be directly observed.

As in the first experiment, one food source was colored with red pigment to make the two organisms easier to distinguish during time-lapse recording.

The experiment was documented using automated photography. The resulting image sequence will be processed into a time-lapse film, allowing the interaction between the two slime molds to be observed over time.

Rather than asking whether the organisms can peacefully share a habitat, this experiment asks a different question:

'''How do two slime molds behave when they compete for the same space and food?'''

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-06T18:19:06Z

Kiana sedighi: changed result

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-06T10:07:50Z

Kiana sedighi: prof to lab supervisor

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-05T01:02:04Z

Kiana sedighi: added space

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-05T01:01:18Z

Kiana sedighi: added video

File:Home4two.mp4

2026-07-05T01:00:13Z

Kiana sedighi:

Home for Two

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-05T00:37:13Z

Kiana sedighi: refine

Kiana Sedighi

2026-07-05T00:27:19Z

Kiana sedighi: DIY final project

File:Video 2026-07-05 03-18-55.mp4

2026-07-05T00:26:57Z

Kiana sedighi:

Camera Setup and Time-Lapse Recording

File:Mixfinal.jpg

2026-07-05T00:25:58Z

Kiana sedighi:

final

File:Preparing the Final Petri Dish.jpg

2026-07-05T00:23:41Z

Kiana sedighi:

Preparing the Final Petri Dish

File:P2. Food coloring.jpg

2026-07-05T00:14:00Z

Kiana sedighi:

P2. Food coloring

File:Food coloring.jpg

2026-07-05T00:12:39Z

Kiana sedighi:

food coloring

File:Colored Physarum polycephalum.jpg

2026-07-05T00:10:51Z

Kiana sedighi:

colored Physarum polycephalum

File:Badhamia.jpg

2026-07-05T00:06:55Z

Kiana sedighi:

Badhamia

File:Photo 2026-07-05 03-33-07.jpg

2026-07-05T00:04:16Z

Kiana sedighi:

Badhamia kit

GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe26

2026-07-04T23:39:51Z

Kiana sedighi: adding my page

''Venue:'' Marienstraße 5, room 202/204

''Lecturer(s):'' Alessandro Volpato

Friday 17.04.26 / 9.15 - 12.15

Friday 24.04.26 / 9.15 - 12.45

Friday 08.05.26 / 9.15 - 12.45

''Modules'':

Introduction to the Do-It-Yourself biology lab:

* Examples of bioart, and how to produce art using biological agents
* Rules of the lab
* Safety in the lab
* Description and introduction to lab equipment
* Brainstorming session to shape up ideasStructuring projects and work in a biology lab:

* Brainstorming session
* Sorting and refining ideas
* Translating the concepts into feasible and reasonable project plans
* How to execute a project in a biology labPhotography and videography with microscopes:

* Basic understanding of microscopy concepts
* Training in using a microscope and a stereoscope
* Taking pictures and video at the microscopes
* Sample preparation

The course serves as introduction to the DIY BioLab and its routine.

Admission and Contact:

* No previous experience in a laboratory is required

* Write a short E-Mail introducing yourself and the motivation that brought you to the course. If you have a project in mind, describe the idea in a couple of sentence.

* Alessandro Volpato
* E-Mail: alessandro.volpato@uni-weimar.de

Documentation:

[[/Daria Lukianchuk]]

/[[Daria Lashutina]]

/[[Kiana Sedighi]]