Mireta, a startup based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is exploring the potential of slime mold to enhance urban design. By mimicking the behavior of Physarum polycephalum, researchers claim that their algorithms can address challenges like transit optimization and climate-related disruptions. Historically, slime mold has been used to map complex networks, achieving remarkable efficiency in simulations.
As urban populations grow and infrastructure strains increase, Mireta’s innovative approach may offer valuable solutions. While the concept of using biological systems to inform city planning is not new, the method of developing algorithms without physical organisms marks a significant shift. However, experts express caution, noting that urban planning requires addressing sociopolitical complexities beyond technical solutions. Critics suggest that the algorithms may overlook the nuances of community engagement and diverse stakeholder needs.
Despite skepticism, Mireta aims to collaborate on impactful projects and is expanding its investigation into other biological systems, including ant behavior for further insights into decentralized network optimization. The foundational idea is that nature’s insights can lead to smarter, more adaptive urban structures that reflect the complexity of real-world networks.
👉 Pročitaj original: MIT Technology Review
