I became interested in Physarum in early 2017 when I learned about how it can form an optimized transport network resembling the roadways of the United States when food is placed on top of major cities on the map. In 2019 I found this excellent work by Sage Jenson showcasing a beautiful simulation of Physarum along with a description of how it works.
In 2020 after refreshing myself of WebGL 2 and learning about “ping-pong” techniques for writing texture data, I set about implementing the algorithm using web technology. This video is the result of my playing with sliders that control simulation variables and finding interesting patterns and behaviors. This project convinced me to expand my shader knowledge through the Arsiliath workshop.
The music in this video is In Shadowlands of Like and Likeness by Rupert Clervaux.