Jordi Pla
@jordiplam.bsky.social
PhD candidate at Complex Systems Lab (UPF).
jordiplam.com
jordiplam.com
Reposted by Jordi Pla
How “intelligent” is a slime mold? When it solves mazes, it might not be thinking:it’s obeying physics. Our new paper with
@jordiplam.bsky.social shows how it follows a least action principle,letting physics do the job arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
@drmichaellevin.bsky.social @docteur-drey.bsky.social
@jordiplam.bsky.social shows how it follows a least action principle,letting physics do the job arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
@drmichaellevin.bsky.social @docteur-drey.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 4:17 AM
How “intelligent” is a slime mold? When it solves mazes, it might not be thinking:it’s obeying physics. Our new paper with
@jordiplam.bsky.social shows how it follows a least action principle,letting physics do the job arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
@drmichaellevin.bsky.social @docteur-drey.bsky.social
@jordiplam.bsky.social shows how it follows a least action principle,letting physics do the job arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
@drmichaellevin.bsky.social @docteur-drey.bsky.social
Reposted by Jordi Pla
@sacrozhangt.bsky.social and I wrote a commentary on Jordi van Gestel and Carol Gross's latest paper, check it out!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sadly, the Editors at PNAS rejected our initial introduction, which was a David Attenborough style voice over of the microbial Serengeti (included below)
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sadly, the Editors at PNAS rejected our initial introduction, which was a David Attenborough style voice over of the microbial Serengeti (included below)
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
@sacrozhangt.bsky.social and I wrote a commentary on Jordi van Gestel and Carol Gross's latest paper, check it out!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sadly, the Editors at PNAS rejected our initial introduction, which was a David Attenborough style voice over of the microbial Serengeti (included below)
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sadly, the Editors at PNAS rejected our initial introduction, which was a David Attenborough style voice over of the microbial Serengeti (included below)
Reposted by Jordi Pla
arxiv.org/abs/2511.08531
/Cognition as least action: the Physarum Lagrangian/
Ricard Solé, Jordi Pla-Mauri
/Cognition as least action: the Physarum Lagrangian/
Ricard Solé, Jordi Pla-Mauri
Cognition as least action: the Physarum Lagrangian
The slime mould Physarum polycephalum displays adaptive transport dynamics and network formation that have inspired its use as a model of biological computation. We develop a Lagrangian formulation of...
arxiv.org
November 12, 2025 at 3:22 AM
arxiv.org/abs/2511.08531
/Cognition as least action: the Physarum Lagrangian/
Ricard Solé, Jordi Pla-Mauri
/Cognition as least action: the Physarum Lagrangian/
Ricard Solé, Jordi Pla-Mauri
Reposted by Jordi Pla
Back to @sfiscience.bsky.social joining the night shift (with some extra coffee) at the Cormac McCarthy's Library. Working on criticality + cancer, statistical physics of ant colonies, the Physarum Lagrangian, universal genetic codes, synthetic agriculture & hybrid agencies.
@jordiplam.bsky.social
@jordiplam.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Back to @sfiscience.bsky.social joining the night shift (with some extra coffee) at the Cormac McCarthy's Library. Working on criticality + cancer, statistical physics of ant colonies, the Physarum Lagrangian, universal genetic codes, synthetic agriculture & hybrid agencies.
@jordiplam.bsky.social
@jordiplam.bsky.social
Reposted by Jordi Pla
New @OneEarth_CP in the @BioFunLab !
Long-term climate warming substantially reduces global soil microbial richness
www.cell.com/one-earth/ab...
@irnase.bsky.social @csicandalextrem.bsky.social @csic.es
w/ Pengfei Dang, Ji Chen, @eisenhauerlab.bsky.social , @tedersoo.bsky.social and +!
Long-term climate warming substantially reduces global soil microbial richness
www.cell.com/one-earth/ab...
@irnase.bsky.social @csicandalextrem.bsky.social @csic.es
w/ Pengfei Dang, Ji Chen, @eisenhauerlab.bsky.social , @tedersoo.bsky.social and +!
October 31, 2025 at 9:01 AM
New @OneEarth_CP in the @BioFunLab !
Long-term climate warming substantially reduces global soil microbial richness
www.cell.com/one-earth/ab...
@irnase.bsky.social @csicandalextrem.bsky.social @csic.es
w/ Pengfei Dang, Ji Chen, @eisenhauerlab.bsky.social , @tedersoo.bsky.social and +!
Long-term climate warming substantially reduces global soil microbial richness
www.cell.com/one-earth/ab...
@irnase.bsky.social @csicandalextrem.bsky.social @csic.es
w/ Pengfei Dang, Ji Chen, @eisenhauerlab.bsky.social , @tedersoo.bsky.social and +!
Reposted by Jordi Pla
Does a cell have a 'mind' - say a proto-mind or basal cognition? Although it was once a fringe idea, recent experimental and mathematical works are accumulating in its support. Here is an interesting recent work: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #complexsystem #systemsbiology #sysbio
Engineering Basal Cognition: Minimal Genetic Circuits for Habituation, Sensitization, and Massed–Spaced Learning
Cognition is often associated with complex brains, yet many forms of learning—such as habituation, sensitization, and even spacing effects—have been observed in single cells and aneural organisms. The...
www.biorxiv.org
October 25, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Does a cell have a 'mind' - say a proto-mind or basal cognition? Although it was once a fringe idea, recent experimental and mathematical works are accumulating in its support. Here is an interesting recent work: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #complexsystem #systemsbiology #sysbio
OpenBSD 7.8 Released!
Featuring parallel TCP input, among numerous other significant improvements and fixes.
www.undeadly.org/cgi?action=a...
Changelog: www.openbsd.org/plus78.html
Featuring parallel TCP input, among numerous other significant improvements and fixes.
www.undeadly.org/cgi?action=a...
Changelog: www.openbsd.org/plus78.html
October 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
OpenBSD 7.8 Released!
Featuring parallel TCP input, among numerous other significant improvements and fixes.
www.undeadly.org/cgi?action=a...
Changelog: www.openbsd.org/plus78.html
Featuring parallel TCP input, among numerous other significant improvements and fixes.
www.undeadly.org/cgi?action=a...
Changelog: www.openbsd.org/plus78.html
Reposted by Jordi Pla
A fresh view on phage specificity, which challenges the traditional view of a narrow host spectrum of phages by unveiling that multihost associations are common across ecosystems kudos at @mmarbout.bsky.social &
@rkoszul.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@rkoszul.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Phages with a broad host range are common across ecosystems - Nature Microbiology
Proximity-ligation-based sequencing from 111 samples and 5 environments reveals that a substantial proportion of phages infect multiple species.
www.nature.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A fresh view on phage specificity, which challenges the traditional view of a narrow host spectrum of phages by unveiling that multihost associations are common across ecosystems kudos at @mmarbout.bsky.social &
@rkoszul.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@rkoszul.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jordi Pla
My first first-author paper is out!🎉
Here we propose a model where a silencing complex, PIWI*, assembles on target RNAs to recruit effectors and shut down transposon activity.
Huge thanks to the Brennecke and Plaschka labs, especially Julius and Clemens, and all co-authors!
Here we propose a model where a silencing complex, PIWI*, assembles on target RNAs to recruit effectors and shut down transposon activity.
Huge thanks to the Brennecke and Plaschka labs, especially Julius and Clemens, and all co-authors!
PIWI clade Argonautes are essential for transposon silencing. Without them, animals are sterile due to massive transposon activity.
But how does piRNA-guided target interaction translate into silencing?
PhD student Júlia Portell Montserrat has an intriguing answer
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
But how does piRNA-guided target interaction translate into silencing?
PhD student Júlia Portell Montserrat has an intriguing answer
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
September 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM
My first first-author paper is out!🎉
Here we propose a model where a silencing complex, PIWI*, assembles on target RNAs to recruit effectors and shut down transposon activity.
Huge thanks to the Brennecke and Plaschka labs, especially Julius and Clemens, and all co-authors!
Here we propose a model where a silencing complex, PIWI*, assembles on target RNAs to recruit effectors and shut down transposon activity.
Huge thanks to the Brennecke and Plaschka labs, especially Julius and Clemens, and all co-authors!
Reposted by Jordi Pla
E. coli transcription factors regulate promoter activity by a universal, homeostatic mechanism | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
E. coli transcription factors regulate promoter activity by a universal, homeostatic mechanism
Transcription factors (TFs) may activate or repress gene expression through an interplay of different mechanisms, including RNA polymerase (RNAP) recruitment, exclusion, and initiation. However, depen...
www.science.org
September 11, 2025 at 7:19 PM
E. coli transcription factors regulate promoter activity by a universal, homeostatic mechanism | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Jordi Pla
Can a single cell learn? Even without a brain, some microbes show simple forms of cognition. Can this basal cognition be engineered? Check our new paper with @jordiplam.bsky.social on the minimal synthetic circuits & their cognitive limits. @drmichaellevin.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 10, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Can a single cell learn? Even without a brain, some microbes show simple forms of cognition. Can this basal cognition be engineered? Check our new paper with @jordiplam.bsky.social on the minimal synthetic circuits & their cognitive limits. @drmichaellevin.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Jordi Pla
How to deal with the multiscale nature of evolution, which displays different time scales of change? We need to replace classic genotype spaces with multiscapes. Here's a great paper by my friend Susanna Manrubia and coworkers @mncn-csic.bsky.social rsob.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/royo... …
August 5, 2025 at 7:25 PM
How to deal with the multiscale nature of evolution, which displays different time scales of change? We need to replace classic genotype spaces with multiscapes. Here's a great paper by my friend Susanna Manrubia and coworkers @mncn-csic.bsky.social rsob.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/royo... …
Reposted by Jordi Pla
Proud of this preprint with my friends Jonathan Bauermann and @artemyte.bsky.social, about chemical oscillators & phase separation! Main findings:
1. Phase separation controls frequency and amplitude of oscillations
2. If reactions are fast, spirals of droplets emerge!
arxiv.org/abs/2507.16030
1. Phase separation controls frequency and amplitude of oscillations
2. If reactions are fast, spirals of droplets emerge!
arxiv.org/abs/2507.16030
August 1, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Proud of this preprint with my friends Jonathan Bauermann and @artemyte.bsky.social, about chemical oscillators & phase separation! Main findings:
1. Phase separation controls frequency and amplitude of oscillations
2. If reactions are fast, spirals of droplets emerge!
arxiv.org/abs/2507.16030
1. Phase separation controls frequency and amplitude of oscillations
2. If reactions are fast, spirals of droplets emerge!
arxiv.org/abs/2507.16030
Reposted by Jordi Pla
Do plasmids evolve faster 🐇, slower 🐢, or just like chromosomes 🧬?
In our new paper, we tackled this question using theory, simulations, bioinformatics, and experiments!
👇 Check out all the details in Paula’s thread!
Hint: 🐇 (most of the time)
In our new paper, we tackled this question using theory, simulations, bioinformatics, and experiments!
👇 Check out all the details in Paula’s thread!
Hint: 🐇 (most of the time)
July 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Do plasmids evolve faster 🐇, slower 🐢, or just like chromosomes 🧬?
In our new paper, we tackled this question using theory, simulations, bioinformatics, and experiments!
👇 Check out all the details in Paula’s thread!
Hint: 🐇 (most of the time)
In our new paper, we tackled this question using theory, simulations, bioinformatics, and experiments!
👇 Check out all the details in Paula’s thread!
Hint: 🐇 (most of the time)
Reposted by Jordi Pla
Is there an ecology of genomes? Can we see ecological communities of genetic elements behaving like species in a rainforest? In this @plosone.org paper, the authors show how genetic elements (like transposons) occupy chromosomes as species fill space in in the wild journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
July 8, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Is there an ecology of genomes? Can we see ecological communities of genetic elements behaving like species in a rainforest? In this @plosone.org paper, the authors show how genetic elements (like transposons) occupy chromosomes as species fill space in in the wild journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Reposted by Jordi Pla
What kind of cognitive complexity can a cell display? What is the role played by nonlinear dynamics of signalling networks? Check this wonderful review paper by Aneta Koseska @koseskalab.bsky.social & Philippe Bastiaens @jgojalvo.bsky.social @jordiplam.bsky.social www.embopress.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
June 3, 2025 at 10:56 AM
What kind of cognitive complexity can a cell display? What is the role played by nonlinear dynamics of signalling networks? Check this wonderful review paper by Aneta Koseska @koseskalab.bsky.social & Philippe Bastiaens @jgojalvo.bsky.social @jordiplam.bsky.social www.embopress.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
Reposted by Jordi Pla
What is possible in the space of organs, organoids and organisms? How can synthetic biology help designing new types of tissues and even novel organs? How can cognition be engineered from scratch? Check our paper @jordiplam.bsky.social @drmichaellevin.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
May 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
What is possible in the space of organs, organoids and organisms? How can synthetic biology help designing new types of tissues and even novel organs? How can cognition be engineered from scratch? Check our paper @jordiplam.bsky.social @drmichaellevin.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jordi Pla
How can biological systems anticipate future events? In our new paper with @jordiplam.bsky.social, we show how a simple genetic circuit can predict future trends through a simple (and perhaps widespread) mechanism @drmichaellevin.bsky.social @koseskalab.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
April 28, 2025 at 10:42 PM
How can biological systems anticipate future events? In our new paper with @jordiplam.bsky.social, we show how a simple genetic circuit can predict future trends through a simple (and perhaps widespread) mechanism @drmichaellevin.bsky.social @koseskalab.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Jordi Pla
What are the limits to engineering multicellular systems? Can we invent new organs or synthetic behaviour? We discuss these and other ideas in our latest paper with @jordiplam.bsky.social @jgojalvo.bsky.social @drmichaellevin.bsky.social & cols www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Open problems in synthetic multicellularity - npj Systems Biology and Applications
npj Systems Biology and Applications - Open problems in synthetic multicellularity
www.nature.com
December 31, 2024 at 4:31 PM
What are the limits to engineering multicellular systems? Can we invent new organs or synthetic behaviour? We discuss these and other ideas in our latest paper with @jordiplam.bsky.social @jgojalvo.bsky.social @drmichaellevin.bsky.social & cols www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jordi Pla
The year ends with new, exciting research on synthetic biology and cognition, started at @sfiscience.bsky.social with my student @jordiplam.bsky.social . Reviewing the classic ideas (see my notebook) and moving them into single cells has been great—an excellent start for 2025.
December 31, 2024 at 5:00 PM
The year ends with new, exciting research on synthetic biology and cognition, started at @sfiscience.bsky.social with my student @jordiplam.bsky.social . Reviewing the classic ideas (see my notebook) and moving them into single cells has been great—an excellent start for 2025.