Slime molds

Slime molds are an odd group of organisms that are not related to fungi (or to any other major group of organisms), despite the use of "mold" in their name. The oddity begins with their soft, slimy appearance; at first glance, they are sometimes mistaken for animal vomit. Though they can become quite large — up to 2 feet (0.9 meters) in diameter, most are usually on a few inches in width. And then there is the fact that they…