An ant colony is probably the last place one would expect to find a maths whiz, but a study has shown that they could solve complex, dynamic problems, and may even help computer scientists develop better software.
An international team has found the ants are capable of solving difficult mathematical problems and also able to do what few computer algorithms can — adapt optimal solution to fit a problem, the ‘Journal of Experimental Biology’ reported.
Using a novel technique, scientists tested whether Argentine ants could solve a dynamic optimisation problem by converting classic Towers of Hanoi maths puzzle into a maze. Continue reading
