Inside the ant colony - Deborah M. Gordon

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Ants have one of the most complex social organizations in the animal kingdom; they live in structured colonies that contain different types of members who perform specific roles. Sound familiar? Deborah M. Gordon explains the way these incredible creatures mate, communicate and source food, shedding light on how their actions can mimic and inform our own behavior.
Lesson by Deborah M. Gordon, animation by Steve Belfer Creative Inc.

[@IsabellaBasso1]

I used to observe ant colonies all day long as a kid. Fascinating creatures.

[@the1andonlytitch]

Mantikore420 I agree I still enjoy watching ants run around, sometimes I like to block their path with a stick just too see how long it takes them to work out how to get round it's funny because they all sort of run into each other I didn't realize they didn't have very good eye sight though

[@josephmelton4721]

I am the one who flocks not how they move dude

[@magictube8704]

Same

[@rileymckee168]

Isabella Basso yeah until you faceplant into the anthill

[@CloroxBleach0]

same!

[@Amantducafe]

A brave ant explorer just crossed my monitor while watching this.

[@notbobross3017]

i guess he liked the vid lol

[@piratebrianplays4353]

+Peteandluke gaming lol

[@princess_alisha_3498]

same lol

[@grammarnazi8187]

Lol.

[@daniyalshah1503]

same!

[@ShawnRavenfire]

I heard that besides humans, ants are the only animals that go to war. If they sense an ant has been killed, their instinct is to retaliate. Compare that to sharks, who when they sense a shark has been killed, have an instinct to flee the danger. Ants are more bad-ass than sharks.

[@vinpop1237]

Shawn Ravenfire sorry I'm late but hyenas ate known to battle and clash of a female of a tribe was killed or mistreated

[@vinpop1237]

Shawn Ravenfire lion prides do the same

[@jessicav931]

Well I would also scape from anything that can kill a shark.

[@muhammetaliozturk3131]

Bees?

[@tajhaybanks8656]

Slot of animals do that

[@SirCrest]

The ant sex animation definitely took me by surprise.

[@mattsven]

1:07 Scarring

[@ajallen9674]

Don't look up bees.

[@marcelrows506]

***** First the pretty women , then the patet women , then the muscular women ... then the patet women

[@dotmhk_7168]

seriously surprising

[@manjudombar4383]

the

[@zainul54]

Congratulate Deborah M.Gordon for her incessant pursuit to link entomology with computer science.I hope novel innovations will emerge from her pursuit.Wish you great success,Deborah.

[@JLukeHypernova]

So that's how they keep invading my house

[@cryingwater]

j luke Hypernova Put alcohol in their path and watch them lose their way home

[@dfquartzidn6151]

In my country, we have a special type of chalk, in order to get rid of them. They keep invading our second floor bathroom!

[@pyrofful]

Buy poisoned syrup liquid. That's what I'm using for my ants since they are attracted to sweets not protein. It is made by the same company that makes aspirin lolol

[@vipex9865]

j luke Hypernova same

[@karynmorse7557]

I am the oddonout

[@rayjohnson67]

so the males are not brutally murdered, they just die like most bugs do, from sex.

[@BryceBurris]

Death by snu snu!

[@ManBearPiglet]

Best way to die.

[@nepnepnepnepnep]

Ray j so you mean my computer bug will die after sex

[@jacobmoore788]

+Bob Jones Futurama reference! :)

[@segoriskjohnny7916]

+Bob Jones I burst out laughing. futurama

[@HybridLibrarian]

Great video guys! Pay some respect to a species that invented agriculture long before humans...

[@limerumpus3589]

@Kellan Cannon bad

[@limerumpus3589]

@Franco Deacon fake account

[@DatOne.Gallia]

@@limerumpus3589 no lie all i can think of is i think carpender ants, correct me if if wrong

[@ZvezdaKrasnaya]

Ants are amazin as long as 1. They don't live in my place. 2. They don't bite me. Any tips on how to get rid of them?

[@oneuniqueusername]

you can buy ant baits that unknowingly take poison back into the colony. killing them all. OMG. I sound like a murderer.

[@lillian.catherine]

Nycco BG Noooooo don't kill them ;-; Just spray vinegar very lightly around the area they are at, NOT ON THEM, but near them. This will remove any scent left behind and eventually, they will leave. Spray it every so often. It's cheap and humane :)

[@cgstudios]

Nycco BG buy a pet anteater

[@soulreaperichig0]

I generally pour kerosene on them. The smell and substance are enough to kill them, but if you want to make sure you can set them on fire.

[@cacapoopization]

They're ants who cares.

[@busnoises4707]

I remember my dad telling me that if you put food near an ant nest and a bowl between it, an ant would find it and leave a trail. Other ants would follow that trail, and some would look for shorter paths and go around the other side of the bowl. Some would follow those other ants and eventually the scent going around the bowl would get so confusing that the ends would end up going in circles. No idea if this is remotely true, but this video reminded me of it.

[@Edameda_mmori]

i saw an ant carrying a food going around in circles like crazy-refunsing to go the nest nearby-. i was confused.

[@UPlayNetwork]

Amazing, thank you for this

[@EmbeddedWithin]

Su P

[@MrWarhead16]

Im always fascinated with ants. I watch every ant documentary in KZbin that I can see. They really are amazing!

[@hungry4danish]

If there's an ant on my car and I drive 30 miles away, is that ant able to join a new colony or did I just accidentally doom it to a lonely life where other colonies will see it as an invader and try to kill it?

[@mountedantman10]

It will find its way back...eventually lol. Other colonies will try to kill it on sight, but that's what they have 6 legs for.

[@tom-esvar]

actualy some ants of the same species can recruit other ants, even they can fuse etire colonies #LateCrew

[@emptycrate3050]

depends on species but mostly you just killed the ant

[@CloroxBleach0]

it won't be able to join a new colony, every colony had it's own queen pheromone.

[@peeblekitty5780]

You just accidentally doomed it to a lonely life where other colonies will see it as an invader ant try to kill it. #LateSquad

[@notbobross3017]

this is like vscause but it stays on topic

[@flowersintheKitchen]

ahaha!! true. still love vsauce though!!

[@pleasestop104]

So, not Vsauce?

[@kyle-cs1dl]

I think ants used our bathroom as a breeding ground because I saw so many dead winged ants and they're huge!

[@Theworldofef]

+Dino Zoid urrrrr.... nightmares now :D

[@elirchi9214]

Probably males cause they die after mating

[@tomnovy3476]

mmmmmmmm i like ants but this *n o*

[@genisay]

They have also discovered, that at least with Leaf Cutter ants, they are capable of making different types of clicking sounds by rubbing their back legs against their bodies. These sounds can be used to alert other ants to choice leaves,or they seem to even have a different, urgent clicking they make when in danger, like being stuck in a caved in tunnel. There was a pretty amazing documentary on Leaf Cutters.

[@kayleighSky]

I absolutely love this channel and it's so much easier to learn through animation especially if you're a visual learner like me! Also I never knew some ants can fly. They never taught me that in school. Plus the girls run the world lol

[@WarriorsPhoto]

As a person working in an industry that deals with ants. I am glad to learn as much as I can about their patterns, thank you.

[@joshitheyoshi2533]

lol the life of a male ant seems pretty good (until dying after sex)

[@eenayeah]

At least they die with a bang.

[@ballo3595]

@eenayeah It astounds me how no one has liked your comment yet. Bravo, sir!

[@neonskylite2242]

I'm not 100% sure, but sometimes when there's a shortage of food, some species of ants will boot all males out so they can give food to who matters.

[@the_really_tired_one]

Neon Skylite *nosebleeds a bit* oh, the nosebleed? The profile

[@neonskylite2242]

Dominic Tan … … …

[@Lowk3yLexi]

Prov 6:6 brought me here. I wanted to understand what the verse meant by a video and this was good and informational! 😌❤️🤠

[@ImageofGodMedia]

Me tooo!

[@aaravkansal4087]

I just love the ending tune

[@jazziesvlogs7840]

I love watching all their moves and giving them food and sweets, I can never get rid of my good friends ♥️

[@josephinehernandeztrejo1686]

Proverbs 6 : 6 - 8. " Go to the ant , you lazy one ; observe it's ways and become wise . 7. Although it has no commander , officer , or ruler , 8. it prepares it's food in the summer , and it gathers it's food supplies in the harvest . "

[@josephinehernandeztrejo1686]

I double checked on KZbin in different videos on ants , the ant has no commanders . It's by joint chemical communication .

[@pyrofful]

Josephine Hernandez Trejo- thanks for sharing didn't ever hear or read that verse.

[@tomnovy3476]

" "The Harvest" " *Empires of the undergrowth flashbacks*

[@sashaeltekeh2618]

This scripture made me look up ant videos

[@channelinactive.seewormsqu3201]

Welp... Now I feel bad for setting out those ant traps ._. So much for 'A Bug's Life 2'

[@pyrofful]

I'm not. Dang things had to come indoors lolol

[@pyrofful]

@@bforbeautiful6273 I would probably feel sick and die.....but would not be missed since my queen would have extra babies to take my spot. Although I probably would unknowingly kill my ant queen by being a good helper and bring some poison back to feed to her. Seriously now.....I have ants and feed them this poison sugar syrup that they are supposed to take to the queen and share. It works awesome since you don't spray poison you just put it in a dish and they carry it it's safer. I don't feel great about how they die but I feel great they are gone. But mosques I enjoy killing when in the house before or as they bite me......is this wrong? Maybe I'm an insect serial killer who enjoys killing pests....... When it down pours outside and the frogs are on the road trying not to drown I try not to run them over if that makes you feel better. Frogs are cool and typically stay outdoors. Any way it's an ant. They serve there purpose. They die......there are loads more around not going to be extinct any time soon. Oh and I don't fry them with a magnifying glass....I only poison the colony. (if all goes well) I think they will eat the bait wish me luck.

[@pyrofful]

@@bforbeautiful6273 lolol true. Oh BTW those dang buggers didn't die yet I found a few new ones under my kitchen table.......I gave them some more "special syrup" lolol. I think my place is built on an ant hill so as long as I take out these there are plenty more outside lolol. I don't mind the outside ones. At least they don't do anything even if in you unlike mosquito or some types of spiders

[@pyrofful]

@@bforbeautiful6273 Apartment. And I know that's why when my old landlord handed me a can of "kill all" poison to just spray around I was like nope. Poisoning my floors and still at best only killing the worker ants. That is when I bought my well that they have to actually find....drink.....and then transport back to the colony. Less poison over spray and ideally kills the queen ant. And yes I think it is. Carpenter ants (usually stay outside) and the suger loving ants indoors and out. (I don't do a mass poisoning outside. I do have well in protective containers but it only attracts the suger ants.

[@sussybaka119]

Did that movie even had a sequel?

[@BallotBoxer]

I've seen some sci-fi authors that should take note of this video. Their idea of a hive mind is false. It's more like improvised collaboration.

[@pinkfloydiano101]

why should them? It's science fiction after all

[@BallotBoxer]

pinkfloydiano101 I see what you mean, fiction can go wherever, but I prefer sci-fi with good science (more facts help the greater plausibility) . For instance, have you seen ads for that new Scarlett Johansson movie called "Lucy"? It is based entirely on the ten percent of brain myth, which makes it very unappealing to me.

[@pinkfloydiano101]

Yeah, I agree that the "sense of realism" makes it a more enjoyable experience... Or at least adds something more. None the less, batshit plots have great potential... I'm looking at you George R.R. Martin and your Sandkings

[@damienfinnegan8272]

Hive minds are cooler though.

[@pallolafer]

I really want to make an Ant-based rpg in the future

[@leothebugnerd]

i know this is an old video, but i wanted to point out that the queens don't just "lose their wings", they actually *chew them off* and use them as a food source until the first workers emerge from their pupae.

[@karlbjerke133]

0:35 thats some next level work

[@flora3484]

Though I was just searching ants, that programming knowledge in the end made this video more exciting to me (me being a programming enthusiast 😁). Thats great, keep it up.

[@MartinChibanda]

This was insightful and in a way symbolic: With hard-work, organisation & perseverance even the tiny can become mighty. This left me with so many questions of interest. How do we know they have no leaders or planning mechanism? What can we learn from the behaviour of these magnificent creatures about how to better organise our societies. So much more.. please post a link to the work of the scientist who did the work.

[@garancebarbier7381]

We know they have no leaders because you can remove any individual you want from the colony (except the queen, but she has an influence on who lays eggs, not the work done), they would do the work just as well. We have observed a lot of auto organisation mechanisms, like recruitment. Moffet wrote an article titled "Ant colonies: building complex organizations with minuscule brains and no leaders" with collaborators, and it is a great starting point if you want to understand their organisation. Very hard to apply the same system to humans though, the ants are collaborating with each other because they are related! We humans do not have families of hundred of thousands of kids lol

[@Dark3nedVoid]

So earlier today I had a presentation about ant colonies, and I did not prepare anything since I didnt know the presentation was today.. I watched this video like twice and then presented it and the class loved it so much they started clapping like crazy and the teacher wqs in a super good mood after my presentstion and I have to thank you Ted-Ed

[@Nertez]

Thanks, now I know I should keep the dead bodies on the ground so other ants that are invading my house will be alarmed!

[@2GMichael]

That's no excuse for manslaughter.

[@thedoughyboy4030]

2GMichael antslaughter*

[@CloroxBleach0]

ummm no.... the ants would come there to take the bodies far from the nest...

[@tomnovy3476]

canniballlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

[@archiox0628]

i loved how this was animated :)

[@Legendofmudkip]

I hate bugs so I debated whether or not I should watch this video. I chose to watch it and I'm so glad I did because I learned so much! Thank you for making this video :)

[@pininja4981]

Bug are amazing tbh

[@ForPeopleEntertainme]

Who thought that such a small insect can teach us a lot. That's just fascinating

[@wkbrl9805]

Rabbimiz inanılması zor derecede güzel yaratmış. Subuhanallah 🙂

[@mavila1368]

I have ants in my house...now I'm starting to feel bad for them...

[@lettacata7400]

thanks! this helped me in my presentation!!

[@DrLaithO3]

This is definitely my most Favoured TED-Ed Video! i have always been fascinated by ants !

[@wkbrl9805]

Rabbimiz çok güzel yaratmış subuhanallah 🙂

[@zigalkodonverven3862]

I've been wondering, how do they construct their anthills? Grain by grain like a brickhouse?

[@clintwolf4495]

Very interesting video. Thanks.

[@jana.333]

I love this channel with all my heart ❤️

[@Lupinwolf180]

I love how everyone heres like ANTS ARE COOL while nobody is talking about this…. Interesting piece of art 1:08

[@TheTuxedoCreeper]

🙂

[@tahirmarwat9419]

Im lecturer and I'm gonna teach my students management with this ant example thanks for information.

[@gamingengine9499]

Ants always facinated me because it is entertaining how they react to certain situations like when i put water or cover there holes up or throw rocks it really is entertaining to feed them sugar too it is the closest thing to forming a society

[@thithuynhingo5001]

simple but efficent. I admire their organisation

[@reecerobin8413]

Hasn't it been shown that they are somehow able to communicate outside of pheromones like in the experiment where you hang a fruit and lead one down a string then more will come from below.

[@aliishanouq234]

This is a great video but i have two questions though 1- How do you know that worker ants have no method of intentional communication and 2- how do you know that male ants only job is to wait until they are ready to leave the nest and reproduce

[@AnimealPlanet]

Simple. Capture a queen and put it inside the container with a complete essentials for the ants to survive Thenz wait and observe... Simple, right?

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

Whenever ants come into the house, somewhere along the trail, there's a little group of maybe 15 or 20 ants forming a circle and facing in. this little group is always a little off the trail, so all the others are not bumping into them and the members of the group seem to be just standing around, calmly. This happens every time.

[@buru2b634]

BariumCobaltNitrog3n They are cult ants trying to over throw the queen.

[@darkmetal101]

Another brilliant video (y)

[@mrcheese7393]

man, Sebastian's ant and slime video is going insane

[@Signs_Leading_To_Faith]

"Ants may not be able to vote, hold meetings or even make any plans, but we humans may still be able to learn something from the way that such simple creatures are able to function so effectively in such complex ways" And how did ants get (inspired) that complex ways ? yes its ID

[@VictorFursov]

Thank you for nice video!

[@BluesHarpJammin]

This is great research for a stand-up comedy routine I'm thinking of.

[@davids.863]

really!....1:08 ....REALLY!!!!?...... I mean, who drew that and thought "oh this would be perfect for ted talks"..... wtf...

[@ericsigne6575]

Suddenly, I have a lot of respect for ants

[@thecreaturescorner539]

This is outdated, but ants have been seen “voting”. When two places for nesting can’t be decided on ants vote by putting pheromones one one side and the other until one has the most phenomenal scent and it “wins the vote”

[@eberhardmezurich2026]

Its just one of media that I came accross to learn about coelecanth tht mention a new finding in Indonesia. Let alone natural history museum, “science magazines”, they don’t even bother to mention it.

[@harukatakahashi8822]

I love the cute funny animation of this video ALOT and I'm subscribing right now (After I text this )and love his voice

[@mc7530]

omg that was an AMAZING JOB!! thanks for the facts.

[@ZymwOw]

thank you for the subtitles :)

[@indicatoker420]

Changed my mind about ants now. I will watch every single step I take when I am walking the street now just so I don't hurt one of the poor things. I'm sure you will notice me if you see me

[@observationinsociety3967]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpjPkoyQnbuVrdk

[@listenupmusicpeeps]

Fascinating video. Simply explained. Good graphics. We have a serious ant problem in our garden. Every summer, they drag sand from the paved area and are crawling all over the place, only for me to puff killer powder on them and extinguish their lives. But after watching this, I am very reluctant to arm myself with the canister and go after them, as you’ve humanised them. I think they’ll just carry on with what they do. Maybe another member of our family will take over the mantle as I am starting to love them.

[@spenceranderson1012]

I want there to be a game where you play as an ant colony and fight other ant colonies

[@europeanambience]

I´ve recorded a Giant Wood Ant Hill from the Inside with a Geofon. If you are interested how it sounds, you are welcome @europeanambience

[@nothinbutadio14]

i dont really understand how knowing how many ants are in an area helps their search patterns

[@ataarono]

I wasnt ANTicipating this video

[@RonyPlayer]

Your bad joke BUGS me.

[@ajallen9674]

***** Don't BEE an ass.

[@JustAnotherSunny]

I WASP pleasantly surprised

[@ajallen9674]

Well don't that BEETLE!

[@BigAl2-u7e]

ataarono That one is really STINGING me (#LateCrew)

[@snehanair1574]

This is so amazing

[@zoolkifli7]

"not by design, every single thing is a complete & total coincidence"

[@jdaragon]

Did anyone else feel itchy?? TED maybe you can tell us why we think we feel bugs on us when we see bugs.

[@Leah-Owens]

There are so many male species that literally just live to mate, do it once, then die. I don't know if that's a sad life or an amazing one.

[@bhattinadab]

Proverbs 6:6-8 "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest." 🔥

[@zachgabriel4094]

wow.. i just watched this and im already subscribeing.awesome vidoes!

[@cmdrtianyilin8107]

Collective intelligence is amazing.

[@namu-kp2hl]

thank you :) It is very helpful lesson!

[@lynneawestwood6452]

MIND. BLOWN. This is crazy

[@porgtheopgamer4316]

I LOVE TED ED

[@kayf_ahmad]

A verse from the Noble Qur'aan “Until when they came to the Valley of Ants, an ant said: ‘O you ants! Get into your habitations, so that Solomon and his hosts may not crush you, being unaware’.

[@wolfyboy]

i really liked how you made it human like, so it's easier for everyone to understand. "using a pipet to drop sperm on an egg, and such" but my FAVORITE was the wya you portratyed ants greeting, withfist pumps and high 5's. :) makes it much more easy to understand, as you can relate to it, AND much more FUN, so it keeps peoples attention, and makes it easier to remember it. :)

[@ejmtv3]

TIL Ants has helped us with technology

[@reynaldomarcano6730]

I have ants in my bathroom, I'm always giving them snacks.

[@stzine7409]

once my garden was a breeding ground my garden was big and there were so many ants with wings

[@kaylajohnson4072]

Thank you for this 💜

[@darkskinglory899]

Ants communicate chemically in ways that could never be compared to the way we communicate electrically. Think about how different it is when you hear a dog vs when you can smell one.

[@aakritip]

Came from the Facebook group "A group where we all pretend to be ants in an ant colony" STUDY

[@tomnovy3476]

Insparation mode: *o n*

[@mateszka2003]

thnx for hungarian subtitles! :D

[@MayankKumar-oi8py]

How do TEDed know so much about ants and many other questions?

[@danielasegura2009]

Make a video about the anthropic principle!

[@BrokenEyes00]

2 questions: 1. If males are unfertilized offspring does that mean they are effectively male clones of their mother? 2. Is a colonies longevity determined by how much a "stud" the male ant was as well as how healthy the queen is?

[@animallover372]

Broken Eyes 1: no 2: yes becouse the queen stores the males sperm to use later

[@BrokenEyes00]

Imperial Gourds if the mail or unfertilized then how are they not a "male clone of their mother"? I mean if there is no genetic material being used from the male than all The genetic material would half to come from the mother.

[@siosayange]

ona day I got home and open my laptop monitor to turn it on and suddenly millions of ants came out from both of my laptop speakers!!!! that is the scariest thing ever

[@alucardlord9032]

Yah there were ants living inside my laptop too, but i only found why they keep on living inside it was because when i ate, sometimes i ate infront of my laptop and my hands were filled of foods scent

[@alucardlord9032]

Actually for years, it seemed that they were not destrouying the inner parts of my laptop, once the laptop is heated, they will eventually go out

[@sudharma_hydroponics]

Please do a video on ants role in natural ecosystem

[@janechiang505]

Cool way to explain complex system simulation. One ant colony application is to simulate army reserve mobilization in a war scenario: how to win a war with lots of lower rank soldiers and very few high rank officials?

[@clausmartin7154]

"Ants do not have an intentional communication system." This statement could just be a human prejudice. Let us assume as a hypothesis, that the ants have an intentional communication system and think about, how we could find it out: Step1: Label every ant ( 5 diffent dots, each dot can have 4 or 5 diffenrent colours. We then can label 40 000 to 80 000 ants ). Step2: Using Videos and Software, we can analyse the interactions of all ants over long time periods and analyse the patterns of their interactions. Are there correlations between the ants in a communication path ? How many of the same ants take part in different communication paths. How do they react ?. Step3: Analyze, where an ant touches the body of the other ant with its antennas and how often and in what time intervals. Do they use a code system ? Step4: What are the lazy ants doing. Do they accumulate informations, so that the ant colony can learn from past experiences ?### At team of biologist, optotronic engineers, physicists and mathematicians could find it out and then we could check, if the same principles are use elsewhere, for instance in our brains.

[@mashqoorchashmawala8303]

1:09 DEAD😂😂

[@simoncarlile5190]

Swarm intelligence is beautiful.

[@spandandhungana5199]

Make a video on bee colony too plz

[@paulneilson6117]

I was wondering why a KZbin video on this subject was deleted.

[@BinkieMcFartnuggets]

0:15 Who the hell puts a beanie copter hat on a baby?

[@palideus]

That is why they keep dashing into each other !!

[@vernandfideldiaries]

Thanks for sharing your video ants new friend here ❤

[@greatreturning3075]

Does that mean ants have a better society than ours?

[@Justin_Joy]

What if we make mechanisms that ants control to help humans?