SahaÂran desert ants are known to wanÂder great disÂtances in search of food. TwistÂing and turnÂing on their way, the ants manÂage to return to their nests along surÂprisÂingÂly direct paths. They sense direcÂtion using light from the sky, but how do they judge disÂtance? By countÂing steps, apparÂentÂly.
As NationÂal PubÂlic Radio sciÂence corÂreÂsponÂdent Robert KrulÂwich explains in this engagÂing litÂtle carÂtoon, a group of GerÂman and Swiss sciÂenÂtists have disÂcovÂered that by manipÂuÂlatÂing the stride of the ants halfway through their trip–by either lengthÂenÂing or shortÂenÂing their legs–the ants would invariÂably overÂshoot or underÂshoot their return desÂtiÂnaÂtion. As PrinceÂton biolÂoÂgist James Gould told NPR, “These aniÂmals are fooled exactÂly the way you’d expect if they were countÂing steps.”
The experÂiÂmenÂtal results were origÂiÂnalÂly pubÂlished in 2006. You can lisÂten to KrulÂwich’s radio report on the research here.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Fire Ants CreÂate Life Raft in 100 SecÂonds Flat
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