[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.78,0:00:11.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hi everyone!
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.100,0:00:14.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Today, I'm going to talk to you \Nabout a living organism
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.79,0:00:17.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I'm working on\Nin my research laboratory at CNRS,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.34,0:00:19.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we affectionally call the blob.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.02,0:00:22.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's what the blob looks like.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.17,0:00:24.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Surely you've already seen some.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.00,0:00:26.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You didn't know that\Nthis was called a blob in the wilderness
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.05,0:00:29.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that it often lives in the undergrowth.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.15,0:00:32.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So these are big yellow masses
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.30,0:00:34.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the trees.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.22,0:00:36.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A blob can take on any color.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.78,0:00:39.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It can be pink, red, blue,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.26,0:00:42.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,oftentimes yellow, and also, white.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.18,0:00:46.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the blob's most distinctive feature, \Nis that it's huge. How big?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.100,0:00:51.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, a blob is big, \Nit can be up to 10 square meters,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.44,0:00:53.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,although we haven't really managed \Nto grow them any bigger, but they could.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.90,0:00:58.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let's imagine that I am 2 m².
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.06,0:01:02.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In my body, there are approximately \N100 billion cells.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.86,0:01:06.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are all 10 micrometers wide.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.58,0:01:11.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here, you see a blob. Do you know\Nhow many cells? It's a single cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.78,0:01:13.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you see, it's a single 10m² cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.98,0:01:18.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Actually, if you compare one \Nof my little cells to the blob's cell --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.06,0:01:20.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would be like comparing \Nmy fist to the Earth.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.94,0:01:23.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that's the order of magnitude.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.03,0:01:29.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what's even scarier with the blob, \Nis that it moves.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.38,0:01:31.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So of course, when I said \Nthat you'd seen it before,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.65,0:01:33.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you'd have to get out of the city, \Ninto the woods.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.64,0:01:36.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but obviously, this is an accelerated video.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.18,0:01:38.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You've never seen it cross a road.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.92,0:01:42.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, a blob moves at a rate \Nof about one centimeter an hour.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.08,0:01:43.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Four centimeters an hour, \Nif it's really hungry.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.57,0:01:47.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Remember that what you're seeing here \Nis just a single cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.28,0:01:50.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because it's a single cell, \Nthis one cell serves all functions:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.62,0:01:56.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the function of the eye, the nose, \Nthe ear, the stomach, the lungs, etc.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.17,0:02:00.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I still haven't told you what a blob is.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.36,0:02:05.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine that in Texas someone asked
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.11,0:02:07.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that very same question \Nwhen she found it in her garden.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.58,0:02:11.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Texas a lady found a huge\Nyellow mass in her garden
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.34,0:02:14.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and asked, "But what is it?" \NShe immediately thought it was an alien.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.11,0:02:17.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So she called the fire brigade \Nwho set fire to the blob,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.98,0:02:22.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she called the police, who shot it, \Nand the next day, imagine her surprise
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.11,0:02:23.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when she saw it was twice as big.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.97,0:02:28.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that's how – you know about \NUnidentified Flying Objects, UFO's –
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.90,0:02:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is how the UCO came into being, \Nthe Unidentified Crawling Object.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.54,0:02:36.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This kind of stories obviously feeds
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.19,0:02:39.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the imagination of film-makers \Nand I don't know if you've heard
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.70,0:02:42.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the movie "The Blob" \Nwith Steve McQueen.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.70,0:02:44.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let me show you a clip.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.11,0:02:52.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dave, Doc Hallen's been killed! \NDoc Hallen? What happened?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.83,0:02:54.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know what it is, \Nbut you've gotta come now!
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.29,0:02:58.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well wait a minute Steve, tell us what's happened. \NWell I'm trying to tell you! This thing has killed the Doc!
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.05,0:03:02.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what was it? Out with it, kid!
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.90,0:03:08.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well it's kinda like a ... kinda like a mass \Nthat keeps getting bigger and bigger!
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.21,0:03:10.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Beware of]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.88,0:03:13.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,["The BLOB!"]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.49,0:03:18.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everyone of you watching this screen, \Nlook out, because soon, very soon,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.25,0:03:20.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the most horrifying monster menace \Never conceived
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.84,0:03:22.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will be oozing into this theater!
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.100,0:03:25.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Run – don't walk!]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.61,0:03:28.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[From "The BLOB!"]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.88,0:03:34.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[It crawls!]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.47,0:03:40.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[It creeps!]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.18,0:03:44.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[It eats you alive!]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.82,0:03:48.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Starring Steve McQueen \Nand a cast of exciting young people!
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.77,0:03:51.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Get set... it's coming soon!]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.07,0:03:57.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,["The Blob"]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.62,0:03:59.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, let me reassure you,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.62,0:04:02.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Blob isn't going to eat you today.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.36,0:04:06.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, we call the blob by a scientific name \Nwhcih is much less appealing:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.90,0:04:12.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,slime mold, or myxomycete - which comes \Nfrom the Greek for sticky mushroom.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.06,0:04:13.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But let me stop you right there.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.20,0:04:15.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The blob is not a mushroom. \NThe blob is not a plant,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.46,0:04:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the blob is not an animal. In fact,\Nit has the properties of all three at once.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.02,0:04:22.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A little bit animal, a litle bit plant, \Nand a little bit mushroom.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.98,0:04:24.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We couldn't really classify it.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.54,0:04:27.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Therefore, we put it in a family \Nwhere they put the hodgepodge of biology,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.06,0:04:30.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when nobody knows what it is, \Nwe put it in a family called protists.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.58,0:04:33.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the blob has been put in with the protists.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.06,0:04:35.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are a thousand different species of blob.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.78,0:04:37.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Looking at ourselves, at our own species, \NHomo sapiens sapiens,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.69,0:04:39.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's only one. \NThere's only one species of mankind.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.34,0:04:40.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the others have disappeared.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.94,0:04:43.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With the blobs there are \Na thousand species of different blobs.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.14,0:04:48.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, that's why they differ \Nin color, shape, etc.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.21,0:04:52.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, with the blob, like the butterfly, \Nthere's a Jekyll and Hyde effect.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.58,0:04:55.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have a caterpillar, often not very pretty,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.27,0:04:59.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which often results in an extremely pretty butterfly. \NIt's a bit like that with the blob.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.09,0:05:02.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see a not-very-appetizing mass -
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.62,0:05:06.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it isn't very pretty to see, a blob.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.16,0:05:10.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, during its reproductive period \Nit shows these magnificent iridescent spores
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.35,0:05:11.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that people collect.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.19,0:05:15.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Reproduction, everybody has heard \Nof reproduction.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.60,0:05:19.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're all adults, so that happens\Nbetween a male and a female.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.89,0:05:22.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is, in the simplest of cases.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.22,0:05:25.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With plants, animals, mushrooms, \Nthere's always a male and a female.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.30,0:05:28.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, there are hermaphroditic animals, \Nwe won't go into this kind of detail,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.64,0:05:30.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it remains, male and female.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.01,0:05:34.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Blobs have 221 different sexes.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.54,0:05:37.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You don't have a male and a female,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.86,0:05:39.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that, when you enter a room, \Nyou could say
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.87,0:05:41.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have 50% chance of reproducing.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.71,0:05:45.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the blob comes into a room, \Nit has a 99.5% chance of finding
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.35,0:05:47.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone of the opposite sex.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.35,0:05:48.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not bad at all!
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.43,0:05:52.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, you could say that
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.69,0:05:55.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the blob is kind of the teen myxomycete.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.98,0:05:59.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is, before getting to reproduction, \Nmaking spores,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.14,0:06:01.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what does it have to do, like a teen?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.32,0:06:02.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It has to eat, to fatten up so as to
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.42,0:06:05.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,produce the maximum amount of spores.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.36,0:06:08.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You'll tell me: since it doesn't eat humans, \Nwhat does it eat, this blob?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.42,0:06:12.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it eats mushrooms. \NAnd again I can reassure you,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.92,0:06:15.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is accelerated, \Nit doesn't eat mushrooms in a single minute.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.35,0:06:17.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It will take the blob roughly an hour \Nto eat a mushroom.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.74,0:06:22.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see it covering the mushrooms \Nand completely engulf them.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.66,0:06:25.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nothing remains of the mushroom \Nafter the blob has passed.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.52,0:06:31.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it absorbs the mushrooms \Ninto the interior of its body where, they are digested.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.63,0:06:35.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here you see the little mushroom \Ndisappearing very quickly -
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.94,0:06:39.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's a bit scary.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.31,0:06:43.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, in our lab we don't have \Nthe luxury of being able to have --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.54,0:06:46.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and grow -- a lot of mushrooms.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.54,0:06:50.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, what we're giving our blob --\Nand someone from Japan
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.91,0:06:52.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,discovered this in the sixties --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.22,0:06:56.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the blob loves oatmeal. \NYou should know that a blob around this size
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.18,0:06:59.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,eats about a kilo of oatmeal a week.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.55,0:07:02.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's still quite substantial, \Nwe spend a fortune on oatmeal,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.46,0:07:05.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but still, we spend less \Nthan if we were producing mushrooms.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.66,0:07:08.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Second question: since it's a living organism,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.79,0:07:12.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you'd expect that the blob -- like any other animal,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.46,0:07:16.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plant, or mushroom --\Nwould die, at a certain point.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.02,0:07:19.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The blob is immortal!\NIn fact, there are two things the blob doesn't like:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.62,0:07:23.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it doesn't like light \Nand it doesn't like being hungry.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.40,0:07:26.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when it finds itself in those situations \Nthat are dangerous for it, what does it do?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.82,0:07:32.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It dries out. It forms a completely dry structure \Nthat we call a sclerotium.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.28,0:07:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that sclerotium can stay like that for years.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.68,0:07:41.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if one day, you're fed up \Nwith feeding your laboratory blob,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.11,0:07:42.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because you'd like to go on holiday, \Nyou just leave it to dry.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.50,0:07:45.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You put it in a cupboard, \Ncome back two weeks later,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.82,0:07:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,splash some water on it \Nand off it goes again.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.28,0:07:51.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's fascinating with the blob, \Nis that you can cut it into pieces,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.62,0:07:52.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into tiny pieces.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.56,0:07:55.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact it holds a record -- \Nsuppose you were to cut
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.38,0:07:57.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,any organ at all in two,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.66,0:08:00.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you would bleed, and it'll take a long time to heal.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.54,0:08:03.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The blob has a healing time of two minutes!
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.90,0:08:06.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is, if you cut a piece off the blob, set it aside,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.31,0:08:09.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in two minutes, it's as if nothing ever happened.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.65,0:08:12.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once you cut the blob up,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.61,0:08:14.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and put the pieces side by side, what will they do?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.02,0:08:17.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They will form a new blob.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.46,0:08:21.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's important that you know, \Nwhen growing blob in a lab, when it grows,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.86,0:08:24.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you see it, say, in the evening \Nand then again the next morning,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.44,0:08:28.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's doubled in size. \NIt grows exponentially.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.55,0:08:31.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every day, you'll double\Nthe amount of blob in your lab.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.81,0:08:35.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So of course the next question,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.94,0:08:40.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,now that we know it's immortal, has 221 sexes, etc. \Nis -- but is it intelligent, this blob?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.30,0:08:42.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is it worthy of real study?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.78,0:08:45.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So first of all -- what is intelligence?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.11,0:08:47.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Intelligence is the ability to solve problems.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.28,0:08:51.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we're going to give the blob \Nsome problems, and
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.14,0:08:54.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,see if it has any solutions \Nto these problems.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.56,0:08:58.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first problem we gave the blob, \Nwas with a Japanese team.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.70,0:09:00.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a labyrinth problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.82,0:09:02.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we did was,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.56,0:09:06.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we put lots of pieces of blob in the labyrinth
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.00,0:09:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the blob had to get out of the labyrinth.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.62,0:09:17.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can see here
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.29,0:09:19.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that all the little blobs have fused together,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.87,0:09:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,covering the labyrinth, \Nand you see very quickly, in fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.18,0:09:28.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the experiment, that it succeeds \Nin finding the way out of the labyrinth.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.74,0:09:34.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Next, we gave it a more human problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.28,0:09:37.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We made a couple of miniature maps of Japan. \NThis is a map of Japan.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.98,0:09:42.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what you can see here, is that we have put \Na little blob in Tokyo.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.58,0:09:47.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all these little points here, \Nare in fact little oatmeal flakes,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.88,0:09:50.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that represent the cities around Tokyo.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.72,0:09:55.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we asked the blob to join \Nall of these little food sources,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.78,0:09:58.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it could eat in the most efficient way.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.11,0:10:01.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We looked at the network \Nthat it formed at the end.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.76,0:10:04.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've got a little movie here -- you'll see.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.58,0:10:07.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The blob grows, like it always does \Nwhen you put it somewhere,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.36,0:10:09.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the first thing it does, it tries to escape.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.76,0:10:11.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you see here \Nthat it connects the oatmeal flakes,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.57,0:10:14.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and once it's in contact with an oatmeal flake,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.21,0:10:18.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it sends out a vein in order to circulate \Nthe nutrients in the organism.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.25,0:10:21.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's going to connect all the little flakes. \NNext, we analyze
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.88,0:10:26.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the network of veins formed by the blob, \Nand we compare it to the railway network
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.18,0:10:30.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,made by the Japanese. \NIt took 50 years to make this railway network.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.27,0:10:33.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we compare \Nif the network made by the blob
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.07,0:10:36.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is more effective \Nthan the man-made railway network.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.26,0:10:39.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, figure this, it is much more effective
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.10,0:10:40.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this network produced by the blob in 24 hours!
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.90,0:10:45.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How to measure network effectiveness? \NSimple, for example,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.23,0:10:48.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for this city, what is the shortest route? \NAlternatively, when I cut
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.22,0:10:50.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a link, can I make a detour?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.09,0:10:52.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is how we measure a network. \NWe looked at
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.14,0:10:54.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the effectiveness of the network \Nproduced by the blob.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.98,0:10:58.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was much more effective \Nthan the railway network built by the Japanese.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.93,0:11:03.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another question arose in our laboratories.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.22,0:11:07.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Working on nutrition, we say, \N"Ok, the blob is smart, it can make networks,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.38,0:11:10.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but does it know how to eat properly?"
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.13,0:11:14.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know very well that humans, when faced – \Nwhen we go to the supermarket, we take a little
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.22,0:11:17.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,food, a bit of protein, a little sugar \Nand normally
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.70,0:11:21.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we should take a diet which is optimal \Nfor our survival and our health.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.06,0:11:25.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, often, we don't succeed very well. \NIt can be seen in many animals
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.30,0:11:27.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we tend to find these tendencies for, \Nfor example, obesity a lot.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.82,0:11:30.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Therefore we wondered \Nif the blob was able,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.75,0:11:33.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we proposed a lot of diets \Nthat would appeal to its taste,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.86,0:11:36.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would it be able to choose the best
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.24,0:11:38.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for its survival and its health?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.14,0:11:42.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here you see food pellets \Nthat are characterized by a certain proportion
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.86,0:11:44.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of sugar and protein.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.66,0:11:47.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one of these tablets is good \Nfor the blobs health and survival.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.97,0:11:52.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we deposit a blob in the middle \Nof this device, we saw that
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.98,0:11:56.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in 100% of the cases, \Nit chose the correctly adjusted diet.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.30,0:11:57.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is never wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.30,0:12:03.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Often when we talk about intelligence, \Nwe want to go a little further.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.94,0:12:08.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Memory is often mentioned, \Nbecause intelligence is also the ability to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.20,0:12:12.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Good the blob, it has a small problem. \NIt doesn't have a brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.54,0:12:15.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Often for memory, there must be a brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.19,0:12:19.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The solution it found, \Nit is to have not internal but external memory.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.50,0:12:25.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, whenever the blob moves, \Nit leaves behind this trail of mucus.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.14,0:12:29.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it is like the ghost of the blob \None hour before.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.54,0:12:33.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The blob was here, it found nothing, \Nit has repatriated all of its equipment,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.90,0:12:37.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then it went exploring \Nthe other side of the box.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.44,0:12:40.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This mucus that it leaves behind, \Nit's like a memory.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.73,0:12:46.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the blob knows it's already been here \Nand there's nothing there. It won't go over the mucus again.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.22,0:12:50.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's quite an extraordinary technique, \Nbecause imagine you don't have eyes,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.33,0:12:53.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like the blob, no ears, \Nyou have nothing and you're plunged
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.86,0:12:56.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a dark room, and you have to find, \Nfor example, a red ball.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.42,0:13:01.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine how many times you return to the same spot, \Nwhen you're plunged into darkness.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.02,0:13:04.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The blob doesn't have this problem. \NIt leaves mucus behind,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.43,0:13:05.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it will never go to the same place twice,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.98,0:13:09.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it'll find the ball faster than you, surely.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.50,0:13:11.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so –
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.46,0:13:14.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We posed it a problem \Nthat is often encountered in robotics,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.98,0:13:18.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's the U-shaped trap. \NSo, imagine yourself
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.55,0:13:22.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this situation, you are in a dark room \Nand there is a white light in front of you,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.62,0:13:25.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you have to reach the light. \NBut you are immersed in the dark,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.82,0:13:28.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in front of you, there is an obstacle, \Na wall that you can not see.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.86,0:13:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, the first thing you'll do is go right, \Nand in fact, fall in the trap
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.54,0:13:36.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,here, and you will need to get around the wall \Nto get out and go toward the light.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.30,0:13:39.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is not very easy to implement, for example.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.51,0:13:42.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we asked the blob to do the same task.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.98,0:13:46.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here you have its wall and here
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.44,0:13:49.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's no light, as it has no eyes. \NIt had to find something else.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:49.66,0:13:53.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we have tried to lure it by a droplet of sugar \Nbecause it loves sugar a lot.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.10,0:13:56.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's what happened. \NHere you see that
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.06,0:14:00.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it moves pretty quickly, it explores its environment, \Nit falls into the trap.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.34,0:14:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But you will see \Nthat it'll get out of the trap very fast
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.70,0:14:08.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and actually join the droplet of sugar water.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.33,0:14:11.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we thought that it was really this memory \Nof the environment that it used.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:11.75,0:14:15.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To test it, we did the same experiment, \Nbut this time,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.78,0:14:19.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as you see here, we fully covered
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.94,0:14:22.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the ground on which it moves with mucus, \Nto make it believe that it
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.94,0:14:25.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,already explored the entire environment. \NSo in fact it was
Dialogue: 0,0:14:25.98,0:14:29.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,confused at the level of its memory, \Nbecause it thought it had explored everywhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.34,0:14:33.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here is what is happening. \NAlready you see it's growing
Dialogue: 0,0:14:33.55,0:14:36.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much slower. It does not understand, \Nthen goes a bit in all directions.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.46,0:14:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not really going towards the sugar, \Nit falls into the trap,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.28,0:14:42.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you'll see here in fact \Nthat it will stay stuck
Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.86,0:14:45.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this trap. \NSo it is the use of this mucus
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.78,0:14:52.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that makes that the blob can get out of the trap \Nand has a memory of its environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.86,0:14:57.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The last thing to know about the blobs, \Nwhich is quite extraordinary,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.98,0:15:01.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is – it always has this single cell, \Nit's brainless;
Dialogue: 0,0:15:01.11,0:15:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well, this single brainless cell \Nalso has a personality.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.22,0:15:08.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was searching for blobs in Australia,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.50,0:15:12.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the United States, and Japan \Nand I've compared them.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.54,0:15:15.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are of the same species, \Nit is the same animal,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.06,0:15:19.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it is not an animal, the same protist.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.11,0:15:21.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we compared how they evolved \Nin given surroundings.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:21.88,0:15:25.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, it's a box, we look at \Nhow they explore their environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.86,0:15:29.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here you have the Australian, \NAmerican and Japanese.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:29.38,0:15:32.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,See that the Japanese is already off \Nto explore its environment,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:32.42,0:15:36.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Australian doesn't do a lot \Nand the American forms these little fingers.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:36.36,0:15:40.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It explores its environment. \NThis one is very, very quick to explore its environment
Dialogue: 0,0:15:40.02,0:15:43.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while the Australian is very slow, \Ntakes its time, and the American
Dialogue: 0,0:15:43.61,0:15:46.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has a new strategy, \Nwhich is to send arms everywhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:46.38,0:15:51.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so we said, it's funny because, \Nfinally, the Japanese is a lot
Dialogue: 0,0:15:51.26,0:15:53.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more effective, because it explores \Nits environment very quickly.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:53.64,0:15:55.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But suddenly, they were given tasks.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:55.81,0:15:59.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, \Nthey had two options to choose from.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:59.00,0:16:01.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Option 1 is a good option, \Noption 2 is a bad option.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:01.94,0:16:04.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example it can be a source of food \Nthat is good
Dialogue: 0,0:16:04.31,0:16:06.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a source of food that is bad.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:06.72,0:16:09.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Japanese really wasn't good \Nat these kind of tasks
Dialogue: 0,0:16:09.47,0:16:12.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it went at top speed, \Nso half the time, it was mistaken.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:12.96,0:16:17.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Australian, who took its time \Nto explore its environment, was never wrong
Dialogue: 0,0:16:17.30,0:16:19.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and was always going for the best option.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:19.90,0:16:24.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The experiment that you'd want to do, \Nobviously, is to mingle the blobs
Dialogue: 0,0:16:24.36,0:16:27.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and put them together. \NWhat would an American do with an Australian,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:27.36,0:16:32.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or a Japanese? \NOf course, that's what we did.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:32.42,0:16:35.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But first we put them with each other, \Ntwo Americans together,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:35.52,0:16:39.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two Australians together, \Ntwo Japanese together.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:39.69,0:16:43.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they were given a food source. \NAnd we looked at what they were doing.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:43.46,0:16:46.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the blob has two options. \NEither it will go see its friend
Dialogue: 0,0:16:46.62,0:16:50.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or it goes to the food. \NWhat we saw with the American
Dialogue: 0,0:16:50.24,0:16:52.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that one went to the food very fast
Dialogue: 0,0:16:52.17,0:16:54.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the other which avoided it completely,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:54.30,0:16:56.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which didn't want to touch the other blob at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:56.78,0:16:58.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Australian has a very cuddly side, which is:
Dialogue: 0,0:16:58.68,0:17:03.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Ah, me, I'm going to see my friend first \Nand then together we will go to the food."
Dialogue: 0,0:17:03.65,0:17:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the first thing two Australians do \Nwhen they are together,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:06.36,0:17:08.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is to merge, to form a single blob.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:08.82,0:17:12.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Japanese, it is, \N"We go to the food first, but we share."
Dialogue: 0,0:17:12.90,0:17:17.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Therefore, it is quite sharing. \NThe American, no sharing at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:17.62,0:17:19.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So of course we did mixed experiments.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:19.82,0:17:23.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You should know that the Australian, \Nwhen you put it with a Japanese or an American,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:23.41,0:17:24.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is still as cuddly.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:24.24,0:17:28.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He runs them after trying to form a blob. \NOthers shun him.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:29.06,0:17:32.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you put an American with a Japanese, \Nthe American kills the Japanese.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:34.19,0:17:37.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, the American, merges with the Japanese \Nand kills it and it takes everything that's there
Dialogue: 0,0:17:37.06,0:17:41.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in its cell, all nutrients, etc., \Nand it leaves
Dialogue: 0,0:17:41.44,0:17:44.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,behind him a completely soft blob. \NAs if it's not completely immortal.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:44.74,0:17:51.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, lastly, regarding their personality, \Na little lab anecdote.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:51.62,0:17:54.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Often, the laboratory bought the oatmeal \Nat the supermarket.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:54.36,0:17:57.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once, I said to myself, \N"Hey, there's organic oatmeal,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:57.30,0:17:59.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it might be nicer for the growth of the blob."
Dialogue: 0,0:17:59.37,0:18:01.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I bought big buckets of organic oatmeal.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:01.30,0:18:05.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I feed my three blobs with organic oats.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:05.64,0:18:11.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Australian feasts, the Japanese feasts, \Nthe American didn't eat any organic!
Dialogue: 0,0:18:12.80,0:18:14.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It will only eat the oatmeal purchased
Dialogue: 0,0:18:14.70,0:18:15.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the supermarket.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:18.12,0:18:22.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, you are going to ask, is it ever going \Nto invade the world, this blob
Dialogue: 0,0:18:22.54,0:18:29.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's so smart? Well, I will reply \Nthat it already has, for 500 million years.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:29.52,0:18:31.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you for your attention.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:31.78,0:18:36.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)