{
  "abstract": "This research presents the evaluation of a computer simulation for modelling shapes of paths traversed by various artificial species of worm on a 3D orthogonal grid. These resulting 3D worm trace patterns have not been modelled or analysed before. Simulation software was custom developed in multiple programming languages and platforms, supporting 3D graphics and virtual reality visualisations on various headsets and operating systems. A genetic encoding enables exploration of the full range of 3D worm phenotypes, this research modelled every possible unique worm in simulations up to 53.5 million time-steps. The results show that in this new 3D grid, there are 3239 potentially unique worms. Of the 3239 unique worms, 1882 (58%) terminated at the origin. Also 1352 (41%) of worms entered repeating loops, some complex loops were identified with lengths of up to 296639. Currently 5 worms (0.1%) continue to run chaotically beyond 53.5 million population in simulation runs, and their final outcome still has not been identified yet and remains unknown. Simple rules result in surprisingly complex and intricate movements. Images and unique outlier observations are presented demonstrating complex 3D patterns that emerge.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences (CBS), University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Neil Vaughan"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4m3er8f0qh2kx.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358065",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "4m3er8f0qh2kx",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358065",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
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  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1703|Cellular Automata and Applications"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Computer applications/Computer modeling"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Computer applications/Computerized simulations"
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      "/Computer and information sciences/Computer architecture/User interfaces/Virtual reality"
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      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Software engineering/Computer software"
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      "/Computer and information sciences/Software engineering/Computer software/Operating systems"
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      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Software engineering/Computer software"
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      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Software engineering/Computer software/Operating systems"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Software engineering/Source code"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Mathematics/Applied mathematics/Algorithms"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Simulation and modeling/Algorithms"
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0358065&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-11",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4m3er8f0qh2kx.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358065",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358065"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "mathematics",
      "origin": "plos:mathematics",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Mathematical model for worm path simulation in 3D",
  "title_text": "Mathematical model for worm path simulation in 3D",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4m3er8f0qh2kx",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}