This post has been contributed by Thomas Slatter, Communications Volunteer with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”).

Super Slime in Stanley Park!

You will probably have come across slime moulds in one form or another in your treks through the forests of Stanley Park. More often than not you’ll have walked past these fascinating organisms without a second glance. To be honest, why wouldn’t you? They’re mostly innocuous, often confused with mold or fungi. But if you know what to look for, you’ll quickly spot these strange oddities throughout the forest: clumps, blobs or spheres of slimy, bright colored gel sporting names like Toothpaste Slime mould or Dog’s Vomit.

A slime mould fascinates this young
Stanley Park visitor. Photo: K.Stormont.

They spread out in seeking tendrils, grasping and engulfing any food they find. They’re made up of eukaryotic cells (nucleus-containing), just like us, and yet could not be more different. However, like everything in the natural world, when you look deeper at the true nature of the slime you find an incredible mix of complexity and simplicity.

Slime moulds are not really moulds at all. In fact ‘slime mould’ is just the name given to a group of single celled organisms that, while capable of living independently, have grouped together. Upon grouping together, the cells lose their individual cell membranes and become a super-cell. With this internal openness, the cells are able to transmit chemical data rapidly throughout the entirety of the ‘slime’, and thus react to external stimuli and make ‘decisions’ far faster and beyond the realm of a single, individually ‘minded’ cell.

Slime mould is, in fact, more akin to a biological computer, a single celled brain as it were! It is essentially a living data-transfer highway, with every part of a slime mould being connected to every other part, through a continuous ebb and flow of chemical information. Through this it is able to work as a single cohesive unit. It is the sum of all its individual cells and their nuclei, and thus more ‘intelligent’ because of it. It is able to solve rudimentary problems, such as the quickest route to food.

Upon establishing itself on a nutritious piece of detritus (like fallen leaves, paper or another source of carbohydrates), it will send out fractally branching tendrils. If these tendrils touch food, the cell will reestablish itself on the new food source. If they touch each other, the cell will withdraw from that area and branch out in another direction.

Fuligo septic (dog vomit slime mould, scrambled egg slime) in Stanley Park. Photo: Peter Woods

In an interesting experiment, people were linked together and asked to navigate their way around a maze as fast as possible. They were unable to beat the rapid, single-mindedness of slime mould put in a proportionately sized maze. The participants inability to work together and their individual egos hindered the speed of the overall unit. The slime mould’s ability to lose individuality, in a literal, cellular sense and act as a single entity allowed it to overcome problems faster than multiple higher intelligences working together.

As if that wasn’t amazing enough, another experiment demonstrated something even more incredible. Slime mould dislikes the cold and dry. Both of these will cause the cell to concentrate its ‘body’ into a small area, while it waits for the moment to ‘crawl’ away. What is incredible is that if the slime mold is subjected to temperature changes at periodic intervals throughout the day (causing it to withdraw temporarily), it will begin to pre-empt each temperature change before it even happens. In essence, it will learn.

Far from the mouldy, gross-looking fungus you might have thought it was, slime mould is not only biologically incredible, but also raises deeper questions of intelligence, bio-engineering and computing, and ultimately the philosophy of individuality versus a unified whole. Awesome!

Myxomycetes sp (toothpaste slime mold) in Stanley Park, Beaver Lake Loop. Photo: Peter Woods.

About SPES Saturday

As a member of the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”), I wanted to offer the organization an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I created the “SPES Series” years ago. This is where SPES can contribute and share stories with my audience once a month. Follow SPES on Facebook for more information.

The 52nd annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon returns to Global BC on Sunday, February 11, 2018 continuing with a single-day format filled with moving stories, joyous celebrations, and performances by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, jammed into eight hours of entertainment.

Variety BC’s Show of Hearts Telethon

When: Sunday, February 11, 2018 9:30am to 5:30pm
Where: Tune into Global BC live from the Molson Canadian Theatre at Hard Rock Casino Vancouver on television and live streaming online.

This year’s Show of Hearts will include live performances by 12-year-old singing sensation Ty Waters, up & coming pop-soul singer Mathew V, Jason Baker Band, the Sojourners, roots rockers The Matinée and back by popular demand, the cast of Working My Way Back to You – A Jersey Boys Tribute.

As Variety BC enters its 52nd year, its humbling and awe-inspiring history provides them with the foundation needed to be bold and innovative, as they look forward with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the next half century of helping families and children with special needs.

From mental wellness or mobility program grants, to specialized therapies, education programs, and lifesaving medical equipment and supplies, Variety helps BC kids. There are the iconic Sunshine Coach vans, and vital the Surrey Memorial NICU, just to name a few ways Variety is there for BC families, time and time again.

New This Year

The Telethon is known for its phone panel (Gold Panel) on stage and now you can be a virtual Gold Panelist by setting up your own online fundraising page for Variety. Collect donations from friends, colleagues, and family members and be a part of Telethon even before it begins!

Finally, the Batemans are back! All who donate $169 will receive a poster from legendary wildlife artist Robert Bateman.

Lottery

Don’t miss your chance to win one of three incredible prize packages in the Show of Hearts Lottery! There’s an all inclusive trip to Los Cabos up for grabs along with a NASCAR Driver for a Day experience, and a luxury getaway in Charleston.

Ways to Give

Donate online, by phone 310-KIDS (5437) toll-free in BC, or by texting KIDS to 45678 to make an automatic $20 contribution.

Miss604 is proud to return as the sponsor the Social Lounge at the Show of Hearts Telethon, where my team of amazing friends and colleagues — who all social media superstars — will be sharing updates throughout the day, from the VIP lounge, behind the scenes, with honoured donors, volunteers, performers and more. Follow along on social media using the tag #ShowOfHearts.

Rebecca Bollwitt is a member of Variety BC’s Board of Directors and Miss604 is the proud sponsor of the Show of Hearts Telethon’s Social Lounge

CityFood Events presents the 8th annual Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival, partnering with some of the city’s best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes, gelato and ice cream makers to offer up delicious drinks and snacks that will warm you up this season.

Vancover Hot Chocolate Festival

When: January 20th to February 14th, 2018
Where: Various locations throughout the city

Confirmed Participants

Confirmed locations are offering up 75 flavours of hot chocolate! How about dark Chocolate, espresso and steamed milk topped with vanilla cream and chocolate sprinkles at 49th Parallel, or carrot cake hot chocolate with Valrhona Dubey 32% blonde chocolate, warm spice and carrot crema from Bel Cafe? Then there’s vegan, salted, almond, dark hot chocolate with pink peppercorns served with Koko Monk’s signature Vegan Root Vegetable Dark Chocolate Bark, or a 49% hot chocolate with chestnut served with a chestnut and coconut rum snowball truffle from Thomas Haas?

Partner Charities

The Downtown Eastside Women’s Job Training Program of the PHS Community Services Society, run by East Vancouver Roasters, and Fresh to Families, a project conceived by the Farmers Market Association and set up and managed under the VanCity Community Foundation. A third partner is yet to be announced.

Follow the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for all the latest updates.

The new year is in full swing, and while the weather isn’t quite cooperating, there are some great events happening around town that will lift your spirits this weekend. Reminder: Coquitlam’s Lights at Lafarge is still open until January 21st!

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.

Friday, January 12, 2018
Sponsored by Miss604: Lights at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam
Cinema in Concert Featuring China Broadcasting Film Symphony Orchestra
An Evening with Syml
Bach to the Future
Social Practice and the Science of Climate Change
The Dark Eighties
Above the Hospital at the Red Gate Revue Stage
The Pipeline Project at Firehall Arts
Hot Brown Honey at the York Theatre
The Fantasticks – Directed by Chalene Scott
Vancouver Chinese Lantern Festival
The Arts Club Presents: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

National Cupcake Day is cross-country event presented by the BC SPCA, the Ontario SPCA and participating humane societies. This year, Cupcake Day falls on Monday, February 26th (the last Monday of February), but animal lovers and bakers are encouraged to fundraise throughout January and February.

“When it comes to baking, cupcakes are pretty foolproof. Trust me, if I can make them, anyone can,” says National Cupcake Day spokesperson and TV host Kristina Matisic. “Over the past few years we’ve seen kids, small businesses and large companies get involved. I love the cute creations that people come up with and seeing all the donations come in.”

Participants who register before Wednesday, January 31st and raise $50 will be entered in a draw to win a KitchenAid Stand mixer, the perfect tool for whipping up delicious cupcakes and frosting.

The BC SPCA will use the funds to find homes for surrendered, rescued, neglected or abused animals, and provide emergency care to injured animals.

How You Can Get Involved

1. Register for free via the National Cupcake Day website
2. Everyone who registers and makes a self-donation of $25 or more will be sent a host kit including a fundraising guide, cupcake selfie frame, mini tote bag and more. The host kit materials are also available for download on the website.
3. Customize your Personal Fundraising Centre online and ask your friends, family and colleagues to support your fundraising efforts.
4. Send your friends and family an email through your participant centre, encouraging them to show their support by donating online.
5. Plan your National Cupcake Day Party for home, work, school or wherever you think people would love to eat cupcakes.
6. Hold your National Cupcake Day Party on Monday, February 27th or any day in January or February that works for you.
7. Bake, decorate and eat!

Last year, Canadians raised more than $600,000 through their baking and fundraising efforts. Since the campaign’s inception in 2013, $2.45 million has been raised, with proceeds going to participating SPCAs and humane societies across the country.

Visit the National Cupcake Day website to register, bake and donate. In BC, you can choose to support the BC SPCA, Langley Animal Protection Society, and Victoria Humane Society. Follow National Cupcake Day on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.