The technique of building ants was studied using X-rays
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have figured out how ants build dwellings. Research has shown that they create entire underground “cities” at depths of up to 7.5 meters, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Scientists sought to find out how consciously ants act when laying tunnels. It is known that in their nests there is an extensive system of passageways and specialized rooms – “nurseries” for babies, places for storing waste, and so on.
During the experiment, scientists put ants in cups of soil and monitored their movements using an X-ray machine. It turned out that the ants preferred to dig tunnels near the sides of the cup, as it was the least laborious, and chose the most direct route possible.
Scientists have found that ants build tunnels according to the laws of physics. So, they remove the most loose grains from the soil and create a kind of protective “arch” in the ground, whose diameter exceeds the diameter of the stroke itself. It relieves wall pressure and prevents collapses.
But, as the authors of the study noted, these actions of the ant do not consciously, but obeying instinct. They added that understanding ants' technology could help humans build strong tunnels or design an efficient earthmoving robot.
Earlier, a new species of ants was discovered on the island of Borneo. In case of danger, they self-destruct.
