We are scientists in our lab,
Looking through the microscope.
The little glass slides they never lie,
How dare this small microbe!

I've never seen anything like it before
This amoeba's got a mind of its own
But don't turn your back you stupid science world,
'Cause it's reaching for the telephone!

OK, that song by The Adolescents might be a bit of an exaggeration, but amoebas are incredibly clever.

Scientists study amoebas such as Physarum polycephalum for their remarkable ability to solve mazes. These single-cell organisms are able to solve elaborate mazes and identify the shortest route from beginning to end. In fact, to test P. polycephalum's ability to create an efficient network connecting their food sources, scientists placed mounds of food in a constellation resembling the locations of major cities in Japan. The network that the slime mold created closely resembled the intricate Japanese railway system. Oh yeah, and amoebas can sense light, a fact that the researchers exploited in shaping the Japanese railway replica.

So watch your back this Halloween! Amoebas are fond of lurking in the shadows and they are efficient when it comes to tracking down food (though it may take some time for them to catch up with you because their top speed is 1mm/hour).