A group of researchers at the University of Norway has created the project "Pacman Microscópico" to study the behavior patterns of a group of organisms. The result? A Pac-Man played by single-celled organisms.
Lately, we have seen the iconic Pac-Man involved in various projects, such as the playable version of Pac-Man on Google Maps or the robots that teach others to play this classic game. This time, a group of researchers from the University of Norway, led by Professor Erik Andrew Johannessen of the Micro and Nano System Technology Institute, has created the project "Pacman Microscópico": A Pac-Man played by single-celled organisms. This project studies the behavior patterns of single-celled protozoa and predatory pseudocoelomates in a 3D microscopic environment.
To carry out this project, the scientists used nanostructures to create a three-dimensional environment and thus study how euglena and ciliated organisms (which act as Pac-Man) and multicellular rotifers (the predators) behave naturally. The result was an imitation of Pac-Man gameplay, as these microorganisms chase each other inside a maze less than a millimeter in diameter. Thanks to this small maze, scientists can study organisms in an environment similar to the microscopic channel systems and structures found in their natural habitats such as peat or moss. And by making the maze, which resembles Pac-Man levels, the research team thought they could better communicate their findings to the general public. Without a doubt, they caught our attention.
University of Norway
