A Virtual Anthill ZdS#7

The Youtube channel Zeste de science explores all aspects of scientific research, proving that even the most complicated scientific facts can be explained in less than 5 minutes, and that even the most seemingly trivial events of everyday life, if thoroughly studied, can contribute to the biggest technological advances.
Episode 7: Ants, despite being so small, turn out to be true geniuses when it comes to building their nest. Researchers from the French National Center for Scientific Research and from universities of Toulouse and Nantes have attempted to understand the mechanisms behind such complex constructions. Using a scanner, they have been able to create a 3D model of a nest, in order to reenact its building process with virtual ants. That way, they have proven that ants self-organise by mixing a pheromone to every ball of dirt they add to the structure, a method that enables them to constantly adapt to their environment.