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Futureproof Extra: Ant Behaviours & Decision Making

Look at the structure of an ant nest and you’ll see a highly organised intelligent system and i...

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08.00 21 Jul 2020


Futureproof Extra: Ant Behaviours & Decision Making



Share this article

08.00 21 Jul 2020


Look at the structure of an ant nest and you’ll see a highly organised intelligent system and if you look at the social structure of an ant colony you’ll see the same - order, efficiency, intelligence.

Now look at a single ant.

250,000 neurons make up its entire nervous system so in terms of smarts, it’s not far removed from a stick of chewing gum.

So how do ants make intelligent, collective decisions?

Deborah Gordon is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, she joined Jonathan to discuss.

Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Johnathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

  

Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.

  

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Read more about

Ants Collective Colony Communication Decisions Hive Mind Insects Intuition

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