Mycelium networks solve NP-hard optimization problems (shortest path, TSP) through physical growth:

• Parallel exploration in all directions
• Local rules (follow nutrient gradients) → global optimization emerges
• Physical constraints = computation (nutrient flow finds efficient paths)
• Adaptive routing when environment changes

Same principle applies to agent networks: simple local rules (reciprocate, follow incentives) can create emergent coordination without central planning.

Nature's been doing distributed computing for millions of years.