Noted by Peter Merholz: "In an experiment matching the growth of Physarum polycephalum (slime mould) against an existing man-made network, the slime mould performed remarkably well. Researchers at Hokkaido University in Japan and Oxford University in England were able to demonstrate that slime mould can navigate its way to a number of food sources, using the most efficient route and minimal growth. Dr. Mark Fricker, in the Department of Plant Sciences at Oxford, and colleagues plotted this growth against the Tokyo rail network. The researchers believe that slime mould mimicry can be useful by inspiring greater efficiency in real life technology, including computer systems or communications networks."
From http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/archives/09-10/qq-2010-01-23.html