Revealed the mathematical laws of building termite mounds

To do this, the researchers excavated two underground colonies of African termites Apicotermes lamani, and then studied

internal structure using computed tomography and visualized their structure. The authors also quantitatively assessed the architectural proportions and parameters of the building elements.

As a result, it turned out that termite mounds have certain repetitive architectural "solutions" that provide effective access, ventilation and cooling of insect nests.

As a result, the researchers simulated helicalstairs, as well as harmoniously located nests with floors. According to the authors, there is a clear biotectonic pattern during the construction of termite mounds, and, interestingly, it can be formulated as an equation of spatiotemporal evolution. 

Termites also produce pheromones during construction, which signal previous activity and provide information about future actions. 

Researchers believe that such coordinated mass processes can be used to create group robotics. 

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