Ants Build Bridges That Widen And Adapt As Needed

Previously thought to be more or less static, bridges made of ants were discovered to change shape and widen as needed. The findings are said to have implications for swarm-based robotics.

Army ants come together to build living bridges out of themselves—that much has been known for awhile. 
Now, researchers say they've discovered such bridges are quite a bit more versatile than once believed—adapting to extend across wider gaps and changing their position as needed. 
Dr. Christopher Reid, a researcher at the University of Sydney, noted, "Indeed, after starting at intersections between twigs or lianas traveled